Ray was scheduled to be put to death today, but the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay, as it evaluates his claim that the state treats Muslims differently than Christians on death row. Ray, who is a Muslim, has requested that his imam be present at his execution.

Today, people who were jailed simply because they could not afford bail in Cullman County, Alabama, won a significant victory when a federal court judge ruled that the practice of jailing those who cannot pay is unconstitutional.

Yesterday, the Alabama House voted to allow the use of nitrogen gas for executions and it now goes to the Governor for her review. This method, in theory, would asphyxiate inmates with the gas if lethal injection drugs were not available or if it was ruled unconstitutional for a particular prisoner.

The US District Court entered a consent decree requiring the Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health (“ADMH”) to provide timely psychiatric services to class members, persons with mental illness or intellectual disabilities whose competency to stand trial is questioned.

Judicial officials and the sheriff of Randolph County, Alabama, are violating the constitutional rights of people charged with misdemeanors and felonies by jailing them following arrest if they can’t afford to pay bail, according to a federal class action lawsuit filed today.