On April 16, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Kentucky’s lethal injec­tion process in Baze v. Rees, there­by open­ing the door to a resump­tion of exe­cu­tions which had been on hold since September 2007. Since then, there have been 18 executions:

  • 100% have been in the South
  • 33% have been in Texas
  • All but one have been by lethal injection.

Of the 18 defendants executed:

  • 8 were white
  • 8 were black
  • 2 were Hispanic.

Of the 25 vic­tims in the underlying murders:

  • 13 were white
  • 9 were black
  • 2 were Hispanic
  • 1 was Asian.

During the same time peri­od there have been:

  • 3 clemen­cies granted
  • 2 cas­es are pend­ing relief (one stayed by Ala. Sup. Ct., one with a rec­om­men­da­tion of clemen­cy from the Pardons Board in Ark.).

As of August 9, 2008. See Executions and Clemency.

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