Warren Hill
A challenge to Georgia’s “Lethal Injection Secrecy Act“ has led the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta to extend Warren Hill’s stay of execution. An appeal from the state of Georgia won’t be filed in time and his execution warrant will expire.
The secrecy law, which went into effect July 1, allows the state to withhold from the courts information about the drugs they intend to use in executions. This, of course, makes it impossible for the courts to determine if said drugs will be effective enough to prevent excessive pain and suffering that would render the execution a “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of the constitution.
There is also a “separation of powers” question: can the executive and legislative branches of government set up a system that keeps the judicial branch in the dark about the most awesome and extreme power the state can wield? In other words, is it OK that the public and the courts are denied information they need to ensure that the law is upheld and that human rights and constitutional rights are protected?
It is unclear why Georgia authorities are in such a rush to kill Warren Hill, given that he has a petition pending at the U.S. Supreme Court, and given that several of the trial jurors and the victim’s family now oppose the execution. Hill’s petition, on the question of his “mental retardation” and the consequent unconstitutionality of his execution, is due to be considered by the Supreme Court on September 30.
It now appears possible that Warren Hill might still be alive then.
Your article is very useful
thank you for articles
The case of Warren Hill is just another sad example of the utmost absurdity and inhumanity of the death penalty! Brian, keep up this campaign and your invaluable work! I'm sure there are many many people out there who support your fight against this shameful grievance!
Thank you for writing about this.
I believe that the burning question should be asked if the state of Georgia should be assuming such a power to sequester the courts first in the order of current hierarchy from such information. Agreed, public should have access to such information, but pragmatically speaking in the case of such an argument, and petition in this case, the public ranks last.
However, not to say that the public should not have any say in the matter. In my opinion, the public should not only be able to petition, but also petition for emergency voting regarding potential emergency bills. Naturally, we are also looking at having to overhaul the voting system as well. But that's a different topic altogether.
Great news – thank you for your work on this – from a Canadian whose country does not allow such barbaric practices, so far!!! – Scott
TThank you for writing about this situation on behalf of Mr. Warren Hill. Valuable information.
Good news and let's keep up the good work.
There is no justice in killing people and I think that if they kill him they will ignite a huge fire. People will have something to say about this and the story will not end well.
I hope we can go further than just extending the date and eliminate it altogether….and not just in this case.
This gives us a bit more time to try and stop this madness and get rid of his sentence
what happened what he do