California considers resuming executions after a long hiatus

Jan. 6, 2010 | By Patt Morrison | KPCC

More than three years after it suspended executions, California is considering whether to resume the practice.

Courts determined that the three-chemical method of lethal injection constituted cruel and unusual punishment because of the pain it inflicted.

Federal Judge Jeremy Fogel — whose ruling halted executions in California — told KPCC’s Patt Morrison that a governor-appointed panel crafted procedures for future executions.

"The new standards have to be formally adopted by the state, which has not happened yet, and then my understanding is it has to go back to the Superior Court in Marin County to make sure that that court's concerns have been addressed, and then after that's concluded then I would expect to see the parties again," Fogel said.

Californians may comment on the standards to the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation through Wednesday, January 20.

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