LITTLE ROCK — A challenge by several death row inmates to a new Arkansas law aimed at resuming executions is being moved to federal court at the request of the state's attorney general.
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Friday moved to have the lawsuit pulled from Pulaski County court, saying the inmates' complaints that the new law violates the U.S. Constitution would be better suited before a federal judge.
An attorney for the inmates on Monday said he has 30 days to contest the move, and said he hasn't decided whether to do so.
The new law allows the Department of Correction to use a combination of three drugs for executions and bars the state from releasing who makes or supplies the drugs. Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed the measure into law last week.