The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals agreed to stay all executions in the state Friday.
The ruling came as Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt sought the stays, saying he lacked confidence the Oklahoma Department of Corrections can carry out a legal execution.
The stay postpones the executions of Benjamin Cole, scheduled for Oct. 7, John Grant, scheduled for Oct. 28 and Richard Glossip, scheduled for Nov. 6. A new date has not been set for any of the offenders.
Pruitt sent a press release to media Thursday after the DOC failed to execute Glossip on Wednesday because a drug provider sent a different combination of drugs for the lethal injection than what is called for in the state's execution protocol. The provider sent potassium acetate rather than potassium chloride.
DOC director Robert Patton said Thursday the provider ensured him there was very little to no difference between the drugs, but Patton said he elected to ask for a stay from Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin in an effort to use "an abundance of caution."
The AG said he wants to examine the DOC's ability to carry out executions in line with the state's protocol before moving forward.
"Until my office knows more about these circumstances and gains confidence that DOC can carry out executions in accordance with the execution protocol, I am asking the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to issue an indefinite stay of all scheduled executions," Pruitt said in a statement.
Patton told media Thursday he felt the protocol worked and he has confidence in his department.
Contact Parker Perry at pperry@mcalesternews.com
