Kentucky

Kentucky and the Horse Racing took an unusual hit by a U.S. Supreme Court justice regarding the manner in which the state conducts its executions versus the way it euthenizes horses. 

The recent Kentucky Supreme Court addressing Kentucky's executions was contrasted by Justice John Paul Stevens with the euthenization of Eight Belles at the 2008 Kentucky Derby, and he made these comments to the 50 federal judges and more than 800 attorneys at the 68th conference of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

However, Justice Stevens' remarks seem to be in contrast to his own opinion and decision affirming the Kentucky execution protocols as he voted to affirm the procedures but remarking that he was now believing that the death penalty is unconstitutional.

Please note my own remarks are not designed to go one way or the other on the death penalty, but simply to report on the story and its twists, turns, and turnarounds.

Here's the story at Herald Leader.  Click on heading for entire post.

Justice faults Ky. lethal injection

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says the euthanized Kentucky Derby horse Eight Belles probably died more humanely than Death Row prisoners in the Bluegrass State.