Court denies inmates’ request to stop executions

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has denied the request by two death row inmates to stop their executions, saying it disagrees with a state Supreme Court ruling that the appellate court is the only one that may issue a stay.

In a 3-2 decision Friday, the Criminal Appeals court denied a request from lawyers for Clayton Lockett and Charles Warner. Lawyers had asked for an emergency stay while other courts sort out the inmates’ lawsuit against the state over what they called a "veil of secrecy" surrounding execution protocol.

The two dissenting judges say the inmates are in imminent danger of harm by their executions and should have been granted a stay.

Lockett is scheduled to be executed Tuesday. Warner is slated to die the following Tuesday.