A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for next month in a lawsuit filed by a group of death row inmates over Oklahoma's execution procedures.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot on Tuesday scheduled a hearing for Sept. 18 in the case, which was filed by 21 inmates following the April 29 botched execution of Clayton Lockett. The inmates are trying to halt any attempt to execute them using the state's current lethal injection protocols.
Three inmates currently have scheduled execution dates, with the first set for November. A review of Oklahoma's execution procedures, as ordered by Governor Mary Fallin remains pending.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections had asked the judge to stay the lawsuit until the review is complete, but the inmates' attorneys are opposing that request.
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