Death Penalty Tossed in Montana

The court thinks the process should be less pain-y

Montana's lethal injection execution protocol was ruled unconstitutional Thursday by Montana District Court Judge Jeffrey Sherlock.

Sherlock ruled the protocol violates the Montana Constitution's heightened protections from cruel and unusual punishment because it lacks sufficient safeguards to guarantee inmates will be executed in a manner that prevents pain and suffering, and that it directly conflicts with the state's execution statute, in violation of the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government.