SCOTUS stops Alabama execution

Vernon Madison, one of the longest serving inmates on Alabama's Death Row, was scheduled to be executed at 6 p.m. Thursday, but 30 minutes before the scheduled execution the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay, reported AL.com. The stay was later granted, and Madison's execution called off.

Madison, 67, has been on death row for over 30 years after being convicted in April 1985 of killing Mobile police Cpl. Julius Schulte. He was set to die by lethal injection at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore Thursday night, but escaped execution for the second time via an U.S. Supreme Court order issuing a stay.

Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a statement Friday morning in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's issuance of the stay.

"After prior rulings that Vernon Madison is competent to face execution for the murder of a Mobile police officer 32 years ago - a cold blooded crime for which there is no doubt he is guilty - it is disappointing that justice is again delayed for the victim's family," Marshall said.  "The State opposes Madison's delay tactics and will continue to pursue the execution of his death sentence."

The U.S. Supreme Court about 30 minutes prior to the execution issued a temporary stay, then was extended at 8:10 p.m., causing the execution to be called off for Thursday night.

The Supreme Court's order states the stay is in place until the justices decide whether they will grant Madison's writ of certiorari - request for a review of the case. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch would deny the application for stay, the order said. 

If a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to review the case, then the stay will automatically be lifted and the Attorney General can then request a new execution date for Madison from the state supreme court.

In the certiorari request by Madison's attorneys at the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), they say Madison is not competent to be executed.

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