Arkansas court denies request for new execution law hearing

(AP) — Arkansas' highest court on Thursday denied a request to reconsider its June ruling upholding the state's execution secrecy law, but justices issued a stay that prevents the state from setting new execution dates as some inmates appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Arkansas Supreme Court issued a split decision denying a rehearing request by attorneys representing nine inmates who challenged the law that requires the Department of Correction to conceal the maker, seller and other information about the drugs.

The stay delays the June ruling from being put into effect so the inmates can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and also postpones the state's ability to seek new execution dates for eight of the nine inmates who have exhausted their legal challenges in their individual criminal cases.

Prison officials have since obtained additional doses, but another of Arkansas' lethal drugs, potassium chloride, expires at the end of January.