Entries tagged with “Melissa Wintrow”

Executions

Apr 08, 2026

New Idaho Law Shields Execution Procedures from Judicial Review and Public Scrutiny

Idaho law empow­ers state courts to review and block cer­tain gov­ern­ment actions, such as those imposed with­out notice or pub­lic input, as well as pol­i­cy changes that are​“arbi­trary, capri­cious, or an abuse of dis­cre­tion.” However, a bill signed March 31 by Gov. Brad Little (R) exempts exe­cu­tion pro­ce­dures from these over­sight require­ments. If the prison direc­tor decides to alter the exe­cu­tion pro­to­col, death-sen­­tenced pris­on­ers will only be able to challenge those…

Methods of Execution

,

Mar 17, 2025

Idaho Governor Signs Legislation Authorizing Firing Squad as State’s Primary Execution Method

On March 12, 2025, Idaho Governor Brad Little (pic­tured) signed House Bill 37 into law, mak­ing the fir­ing squad the state’s pri­ma­ry method of exe­cu­tion. In a state­ment to Catholic News Agency, Gov. Little said,​“I have long made clear my sup­port of cap­i­tal punishment…My sign­ing of \[this bill\] is con­sis­tent with my sup­port of the Idaho Legislature’s actions in set­ting the poli­cies around meth­ods of exe­cu­tion in the state of Idaho.” The bill, which takes effect on July 1,…