The decision follows Griffen's protest Friday outside the Governor's Mansion against the scheduled executions.
(Stephen B. Thornton /The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP).
In 2014, Oklahoma was the last state to attempt two executions on the same night, an event that has not happened since Texas held a dual execution in 2000.
Arkansas Department of Correction employees continued their preparations to execute Davis even though the execution's status was up in the air, reports CBS Little Rock affiliate KTVH-TV.
The attorney for Davis and Ward requested stays of execution until the US Supreme Court rules on an upcoming case concerning inmate access to independent mental health experts.
The state was rushing to win approval to execute Davis before his death warrant expired at midnight.
In a split decision, Arkansas' highest court stayed the executions of convicted murderers Don Davis and Bruce Ward, who have spent over 20 years each on death row. He is one of eight men abruptly scheduled to die by lethal injection before the state's supply of midazolam reaches its expiration date.
Despite the setbacks, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said Arkansas would press ahead with other planned executions, including two set for Thursday - Ledell Lee and Stacey Johnson.
At a federal court hearing last week, prison officials testified they must conduct the executions with their current batch of midazolam, a sedative that is meant to mask the effects of drugs that will shut down the inmates' lungs and hearts.
The state high court previously granted a stay of execution for Ward on a claim that he lacks the competency to face execution. The inmates wanted stays of execution while the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a case concerning access to independent mental health experts by defendants. He asked to keep the victims' families in mind following the ruling. "The families are entitled to closure and finality of the law".
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On April 6, U.S. District Judge J.P. Marshall halted one of the executions, saying the expedited schedule did not allow proper time for considering clemency for inmate Jason McGehee, who is one of the inmates set to die on April 27.
Justice on the Supreme Court rejected a request by the state to lift a stay that would have allowed officials to conduct the state's first execution in almost a dozen years.
Davis was sentenced to death for the 1990 death of Jane Daniel in Rogers, Arkansas.
As officials awaited further court action, Davis had his "last meal" at the Cummins Unit, where the execution chamber is located.
Over the weekend a federal judge postponed all of the executions.
Details: Bruce Ward's attorneys say he is schizophrenic and has no rational understanding of his execution. The eight are scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Arkansas, beginning April 17, 2017.
Details: Midazolam is one of three drugs used in Arkansas' execution process.
The top court in Arkansas has halted two executions that were due to start a series of seven in 11 days.
In ruling for the inmates early Saturday morning, U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker found they offered multiple available alternative execution methods. A medical supply company said it was misled by the state and that the drug was sold to be used for medical purposes, not executions. The prisoners' attorneys say the drug is "risky" and "denies prisoners their right to be free from the risk of torture".
Two hours before the appeals court ruling, the Arkansas Supreme Court stopped the executions of two men scheduled to be put to death Monday evening.
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