Attorney General Eric Holder called on states to temporarily pause death penalty executions on Tuesday, until the Supreme Court decides a case about the controversial drug cocktails used for lethal injects in some states. The Supreme Court plans on hearing a case brought up by death row inmates in Oklahoma, who believe the midazolam-based drug cocktail used by the state is a breach of their constitutional protection from 'cruel and unusual punishment'. The death penalty has long been controversial but became an even bigger issue last year with the botched execution of Oklahoma prisoner Clayton Lockett who writhed in pain and clenched his teeth during the 45 minutes it took for him to die from an injection last year.
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The Supreme Court will decide this year whether the three-drug combination used in Oklahoma executions is constitutional
@placeholder, who will be retiring once his replacement is confirmed, has long opposed the death penalty since it presents the 'inevitable' risk of killing an innocent person.