Court examines mechanics of lethal injection

The Supreme Court Justices focused on the mechanical details of lethal injection in their questions to the attorneys arguing before them in Baze v. Rees today. Some Justices suggested that the case should go back to the lower courts where more evidence could be gathered about alternative administration of drugs for execution, a possibility that Justice Scalia objected to because it could extend the nationwide moratorium on executions; "it could take years" he said.

The sketch shows the attorney for the Kentucky death-row inmates, Donald Verrilli, Jr., arguing before the Court.

Washington Post story is here.