Court Opinion

ID: 9498332
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 17:14:48.576034+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:58:46.225960
License: Public Domain

HEANEY, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I cannot vote to send Timothy Johnston to his death tonight without first having an opportunity to review the entire district court record relating to his claim that Missouri’s execution protocol subjects him to cruel and unusual punishment. I voted to stay Johnston’s execution for the modest period of roughly one week to provide myself and the other judges an opportunity to review the entire record, rather than the incomplete record we have so far received.
The state opposed Johnston’s motion to stay his execution and has now attempted to convince a majority of our en banc court that its interest in a swift execution is more important than allowing this court to review the entire record so as to make an informed decision about whether Johnston’s Eighth Amendment claim has any merit. I reserve the right to set forth my views more fully at a later time.