Perhaps Alabama Governor Bob Riley has a heart after all, or maybe he just knows serious political pressure when he sees it.

Within a half hour of our posting the editorial below and sending it via e-mail to the governor’s office, “Cowboy boots” Bob granted a 45-stay of execution for death row inmate Tommy Arthur.

His justification?

Riley said a change made this week in the state’s lethal injection procedures, announced on Wednesday, were designed to ensure that the inmate is unconscious when given drugs to stop his heart and lungs. Arthur was scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. today, but he would not have received the new lethal injection formula, Riley said.

AP: Alabama Governor Grants 45-Day Stay of Execution for Arthur

There was no word from the governor’s office on whether he will reconsider his decision not to push the state legislature for a post-conviction DNA testing law, which is the law in 42 of the 50 states.

We urge Governor Riley and the Alabama Legislature to immedietely change the law and allow DNA testing in any case where it is warranted to avoid any possibility of putting innocent convicts to death.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 27th, 2007 at 3:20 pm and is filed under The Death Penalty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.