Court won’t revive judge’s lawsuit over execution protest

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) _ A federal appeals court says it won’t revive an
Arkansas judge’s lawsuit challenging his disqualification from execution cases
over his participation in an anti-death penalty demonstration outside the
governor’s mansion last year.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday said it won’t reconsider a
three-judge panel’s decision to dismiss Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell
Griffen’s lawsuit against the Arkansas Supreme Court’s justices. The Arkansas
high court disqualified Griffen after he was photographed laying on a cot
outside the governor’s mansion during an anti-death penalty demonstration.
Griffen had blocked Arkansas from using a lethal injection drug the same day.

Griffen has argued the disqualification violated his constitutional rights.
Griffen’s attorney says the judge plans to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme
Court.

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