US District Judge Rules That Oklahoma Lethal Injections Can Continue

U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot ruled Monday morning that Oklahoma lethal injections may continue.

An Oklahoma City federal judge has ruled the state can proceed in executing death row inmates.

More than two dozen death row inmates filed a federal lawsuit in 2014 claiming the state’s three drug lethal injection cocktail is cruel and unusual punishment.

In March, the court heard more than 40 hours of testimony over six days.

On Monday morning, U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot issued a four page ruling in favor of the state, paving the way for executions to move forward.

There are 43 inmates on Oklahoma’s Death row, 28 have exhausted their appeals and are now eligible to be executed.