The Council of State voted this morning to reject the recommendations of an Administrative Law Judge and approve the Department of Correction’s proposed lethal injection protocol. Of the nine-member Council, only Commissioner James E. Long voted against the DOC.
General info on the meeting here.
More on the proceedings before the ALJ here.
Older blogging here.
WRAL reports that after a “brief discussion,” the Council decided that the ALJ “lacked jurisdiction.” Attorney Elizabeth Kuniholm expressed frustration that the Council refused to address the issue on the merits (N&O).
The case will return to Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens.
