Justices spar over execution stay in capital case out of Texas

As reported this morning over at SCOTUSblog, in this morning’s Supreme Court “orders list there is an interesting exchange of opinions on a stay of execution — a dissent by 3 judges from the grant of a stay, and a response by 2.”  This debate, which concern a stay granted back in October, appears in the last five pages at the end of this orders list. 

Justice Sotomayor’s statement in support of the stay, which was joined by Justice Ginsburg, runs only two paragraphs.  Justice Scalia’s dissent from the stay, which is joined by Justices Alito and Thomas, runs a full three pages and concludes with these sentences: “Haynes has already outlived the policeman whom he shot in the head by 14 years. I cannot join the Court’s further postponement of the State’s execution of its lawful judgment.”