Justice Department plans to appeal ruling halting execution
Source: Associated Press
Michael Balsamo, Colleen Long and Andrew Demillo, Associated Press
Updated 5:36 pm CDT, Friday, July 10, 2020
WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department plans to appeal a judges ruling that halted the first federal execution in nearly two decades after family members of the victims raised concerns they would be at high risk of coronavirus if they had to travel to attend it.
The Justice Department filed its notice to appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday.
A federal judge had said Daniel Lees execution must not move forward as scheduled on Monday. Lee was to be the first federal inmate to be put to death in 17 years.
Lee, of Yukon, Oklahoma, was convicted in Arkansas of the 1996 killings of gun dealer William Mueller, his wife, Nancy, and her 8-year-old daughter, Sarah Powell.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Judge-halts-1st-federal-execution-in-17-years-15400353.php
Journeyman
(15,001 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)NCjack
(10,279 posts)stillcool
(32,626 posts)don't want him executed at all, at any time.
But relatives of those killed by Lee strongly oppose that idea. They wanted to be present to counter any contention that it was being done on their behalf.
For us it is a matter of being there and saying, `This is not being done in our name; we do not want this, said relative Monica Veillette.
The relatives, including Earlene Branch Peterson, who lost her daughter and granddaughter in the killing, have argued that their grief is compounded by the push to execute Lee in the middle of a pandemic.
JudyM
(29,122 posts)stillcool
(32,626 posts)depending on how you feel about executions. They would be more likely to postpone an execution over the right to see the guy killed, than because the family doesn't agree with execution.
JudyM
(29,122 posts)Kyl Notjon
(22 posts)Are you sure you wanna be restarting executions for federal crimes? 'cause I wouldn't entirely rule out both you and Red Don Trumpolev being on the hook for treason in the-not-too-distant future!
usajumpedtheshark
(672 posts)they don't stop supporting you for that. But if you are pro-choice then you are evil. The Catholic Bishops supported Bush for president because he claimed to be pro-life even though as gov of tx he permitted many executions.
NNadir
(33,368 posts)I'm sure they'll be popular with the guys.