By Gabe Bullard
Louisville, KY – Despite having no supply of or sources for one component of the three-drug cocktail used in lethal injections, Kentucky is not planning to change its execution protocol. The commonwealth recently turned over its only stock of sodium thiopental to the federal government due to concerns over the drug's origins. There is currently no domestic manufacturer of the drug, either. Other states have attempted to use a different formula, but Justice Cabinet spokesperson Jennifer Brislin says Kentucky is unlikely to follow suit. Changing the formula would involve revising the state's lethal injection protocol a six month process that leaves the state open to legal challenges on the efficacy, humanity and legality of the death penalty.
"Right now we have confidence in the protocol that's been adopted. It's been taken all the way up to the Supreme Court. We don't have any concerns about that. Of course, if we open that process back up, there is that opportunity for people to come back in and challenge."
The U.S. Supreme Court this week blocked the use of the substitute drug in Texas because state officials did not properly change the execution protocol. There is currently an injunction against executions in Kentucky.