Opinion ID: 1427943
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 17

Heading: Constitutional Validity of Lethal Injection

Text: Mr. Zink asserts the motion court erred in denying discovery and a hearing on his claim that Missouri's method of lethal constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. When a condemned person has not yet exhausted his appeals, it is premature to consider a claim involving the method of execution, as it is unknown what method, if any, of lethal injection may be utilized by the State of Missouri at such future time, if any, as [Mr. Zink's] right to seek relief in state and federal courts is concluded and his execution date and method are set. Worthington, 166 S.W.3d at 583 n. 3. As such, Mr. Zink's claim challenging the constitutional validity of the method of execution is not yet ripe, and the motion court did not err in denying discovery and a hearing on an unripe claim.