U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch ruled in his first big case late Thursday night. It allowed Arkansas to move forward with executions after a nearly 12 years lull.
The newest Supreme Court Justice’s vote helped reconstitute the court’s 5-4 conservative majority. Gorsuch joined Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Anthony Kennedy, and Samuel Alito in denying death row inmate Ledell Lee’s appeals. He was executed last night.
Justices did not explain the reasoning for their ruling. Lee’s attorneys had argued new DNA testing technology could exonerate him. SCOTUS was also asked to evaulate other issues like the compressed schedule and the sedative medazolam. Lee claimed innocence to the end.