The S.C. Supreme Court ordered a lower court to collect more information from the state Department of Corrections regarding the state agency’s attempts to get drugs for lethal injections.
“Inmates’ discovery requests regarding lethal injection are particularly relevant and reasonable in light of the fact that, for over 10 years, other states have continued to perform executions using lethal injection, rather than electrocution and the firing squad,” Chief Justice Donald Beatty wrote.
The order means it could take four more months before justices decided on the legality of the electric chair and firing squad as means of execution.
In other news this week:
Murdaugh trial kicks off to national audience. After three days of work to empanel a jury of 12 people and six alternates, the high-profile double murder trial of disbarred Hampton County lawyer and scion Alex Murdaugh got underway with witnesses. On Thursday, the officer who was first to arrive on the scene of the 2021 murder of Alex Murdaugh’s wife and son testified that Murdaugh was upset but did not see any visible tears on his face. In court on Thursday, Murdaugh cried.
S.C. fails tobacco prevention analysis. South Carolina failed its assessment of tobacco prevention among youth, according to a national advocacy group. The American Lung Association gave an “F’ to most areas of the state.
Statehouse leaders seek to reform bail system. Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has named bail reform as a top priority. Some advocates say the “catch and release” option keeps repeat offenders dangerous and described the system as a “revolving door.”
S.C. lawmakers delay judicial elections by one week. The South Carolina Senate voted to delay the judicial election to replace S.C. Supreme Court Justice Kaye Hearn. Some argued the process is undemocratic, while others were upset that South Carolina would be the only state in the country with an all-male court.
S.C. House moves forward on bill about teaching race in schools. A bill that would limit certain teachings on race in public schools is moving through the S.C. House of Representatives. One Democratic lawmaker said he would file a bill against teaching about slave owners as a response.
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