US appeals to proceed with 1st federal execution in 17 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department plans to appeal a judge’s ruling that would halt the first federal execution in nearly two decades. The Justice Department filed its notice to appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday.

The halt was ordered after family members of the victims raised concerns that they would be at high risk for the coronavirus if they had to travel to attend. They actually oppose the execution and say they wanted to be present to counter any contention that it was happening on their behalf.

A federal judge had ordered that Daniel Lee’s execution must not move forward as scheduled on Monday. Lee, of Yukon, Oklahoma, was convicted in Arkansas of the 1996 killings of a gun dealer, his daughter, and her 8-year-old daughter.