Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is arguing against delaying the execution of Loran Cole, a man with Parkinson’s symptoms who is scheduled to be executed on Thursday. Cole’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court challenges the state’s lethal injection procedures, claiming they will cause him unnecessary pain due to his condition. Moody’s office argues that Cole waited too long to raise these concerns, as he had known about his Parkinson’s symptoms for years but only brought up the issue when his death warrant was signed. Cole’s attorneys argue that his Parkinson’s symptoms will affect the execution process, making it unsafe and inhumane. Despite his appeal, the Florida Supreme Court has denied a previous appeal from Cole. The case has brought attention to the secrecy surrounding Florida’s death penalty procedures, which are largely exempt from public records. The state has faced challenges in securing the necessary drugs and staff for executions, and botched executions in other states have raised concerns about the overall process. Cole has also argued that his execution should be blocked due to past abuse he suffered at a state-run reform school.
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