FILE – This undated photo provided by The Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows John Henry Ramirez, a Texas death row inmate. Executions in the nation’s busiest capital punishment state are likely to face new delays because of legal questions tied to spiritual advisers and what role they play in the death chamber. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Nov. 1, 2021, in the case of Ramirez, who says the state is violating his religious freedom by not letting his spiritual adviser lay hands on him and pray out loud at the time of his lethal injection. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP File) HOUSTON – Executions in the nation’s busiest capital punishment state face delays amid legal questions over Texas’ refusal to allow spiritual advisers to touch inmates and pray aloud as condemned individuals are being put to death. It’s unclear when Texas may carry out another execution after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear religious freedom claims from death row inmate John Henry Ramirez. The court blocked his execution last month, about three hours after it could have been carried out. Several other inmates have since made similar claims, and courts have put […]
