Supreme Court orders Oklahoma to halt executions over lethal injection drug

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the executions of three Oklahoma men due to concerns about the controversial drug cocktail the state uses for lethal injections.

The move was widely expected after the Justices agreed last week to hear the inmates' legal challenge that the drug, midazolam, causes intense suffering and thus violates the constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Lawyers for the petitioners pointed to Oklahoma's botched execution last year of Clayton Lockett as proof the drug should not be administered.

Though the state initially opposed staying the executions, it changed course on Monday and asked the high court to intervene.

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