Judge Rejects Ga. Inmate Roy Blankenship's Execution Drug Concerns

Feb 16, 2011 - 08:25
Feb 16, 2011 - 08:30
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Judge Rejects Ga. Inmate Roy Blankenship's Execution Drug Concerns
Roy Willard Blankenship

ATLANTA - A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit by a Georgia inmate who claimed the state’s stockpile of a key lethal injection drug expired and that using outdated drugs may cause excruciating pain.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Batten on Tuesday denied Roy Willard Blankenship’s request to halt his execution until more details are released about the state’s supply of sodium thiopental.

State attoeys argued that the sedative will not expire until February 2014 and claimed the lawsuit was a backdoor attempt to commute his sentence.

Blankenship was set to be executed last week for the 1978 murder of an elderly woman, but the state pardons board postponed it earlier this month to give authorities more time to conduct DNA testing on the victim’s remains.

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Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher is a Georgia-based freelance journalist covering local news, community developments, and regional issues that matter most to residents across the state. Writing for Georgianewsday.com since 2016, Mike has built a reputation for clear, balanced reporting and a strong connection to the communities he serves. His work spans city council decisions, school board updates, small business features, public safety reports, and statewide policy changes. In addition to local coverage, Mike occasionally reports on state politics and national headlines, offering readers context on how broader decisions impact Georgia communities. Known for his steady, fact-driven approach, Mike prioritizes accuracy, fairness, and accessibility in every story. Whether covering a town hall meeting or breaking political developments, he aims to inform readers with clarity and integrity. Outside the newsroom, Mike remains actively engaged in Georgia’s civic landscape, always seeking the next story that shapes the state’s future.