{Frankfort, Kentucky}...During a public hearing Tuesday morning in Frankfort, public defenders, private attorneys and anti-death penalty activists asked officials to make multiple changes to how executions are carried out now that the state is switching to a one-or two-drug lethal injection. Critics of Kentucky's proposed new death penalty method say the rules Kentucky wants to put in place have multiple problems, including that condemned inmates aren't allowed access to their attorneys on the day of execution. Lexington attorney Tom Griffiths said a death row inmate could change his mind in the days or hours leading to an execution but still be put to death if not given the chance to speak to an attorney. The Kentucky Justice Cabinet must submit the proposed regulations to the Legislative Research Council by October 15th. The regulations then go to legislative committees for consideration. If there are no delays, state officials expect to appear before Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd in February or March to ask him to lift an order barring inmates from being put to death.
