Washington, Jul 13 (UNI) A US appeals court has overturned an earlier ruling of an Indiana judge to halt the first federal execution in 17 years, which will now be carried out on Monday, a relevant court order says.
"The plaintiffs' claim is frivolous ... they have no statutory or regulatory right to attend the execution," the Sunday order of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Curcuit, released by Axios media, says, adding that "executions are not public proceedings" and that the Federal Death Penalty Act "makes no mention of witnesses, whether members of the victims' family or others."
Chief District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson for the Southern District of Indiana blocked the execution of US inmate Daniel Lee on Friday after some of the victims’ relatives sued, claiming that the Indiana prison had failed to provide a safe environment for them to attend the execution amid the coronavirus pandemic.