Roy Lee Ward Execution

And Also: I discuss Justice Kennedy (who has a new book) and related subjects here.

Ward brutally murdered Payne in her Dale, Indiana, home after knocking on her door and pretending he was looking for a lost dog. His attorneys spent the next two decades angling for new trials and appeals until his execution was finally set for Oct. 10.

This sums things up. 

But those drugs came at a high cost, more than $1 million for four doses. In June, Braun said the state wouldn't immediately buy more, raising questions about if Indiana would consider a new execution method. The first-term Republican cited the high cost and short shelf life.

The final appeal concerns the drugs used for the execution. The state, at significant cost, resumed executions last year after a 15-year hiatus. Obtaining drugs and ensuring they are of adequate quality is a continuing problem, as discussed by Professor Lain in her book. Lethal injection continues to be a dubious method of execution for various reasons. 

States also do not provide transparency, including “whether they are expired, how they are transported and stored, or their potency and sterility.” Furthermore, there was evidence that a recent execution was botched. 

Such claims, sometimes for procedural reasons, have not received much success. The Supreme Court overall has not been sympathetic. He also raised other claims over the years, including arguments that his autism and learning disability mitigated his crimes. 

I think that over twenty years raises the unconstitutional delay concerns cited by Breyer and others. The delays are significantly a result of criminal appeals. But appeals ensure justice. And, at least some of his claims did have some merit.  

Overall, he committed a horrible crime. A long prison sentence serves both penal and public safety purposes. I understand many won't be concerned that he was executed. However, it was neither necessary nor proper.

The article notes that his lawyers dropped final appeals after negotiating an agreement regarding the execution procedures. The media were not present during the execution. This is troubling.

Meanwhile, others campaigned for the end of capital punishment. Busy week ahead.