Lee’s attorneys also petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court, not long after justices on Thursday night denied other stay requests filed by several Arkansas death-row inmates. The Supreme Court ultimately denied his stay requests in orders released by the court just before 11:30 p.m. at the Arkansas prison, following an hours-long delay imposed by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. so the high court could review the inmate’s appeals. RelatedSeveral death-row inmates in Arkansas, including Lee, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the executions, but the justices earlier Thursday night released orders denying these requests. Also on Wednesday, the Arkansas Supreme Court issued an order staying one of the two executions set for Thursday night. “I am both surprised and disappointed at the last minute stay by the Arkansas Supreme Court,” Hutchinson said in a statement.

Source: National Post April 21, 2017 12:45 UTC