LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Nevada Supreme Court has canceled plans for oral arguments this week on a state request to quickly decide whether a twice-delayed execution of a condemned inmate should go forward despite drugmakers' protests.
Chief Justice Michael Douglas' four-sentence order canceling Friday's arguments in Carson City takes the case off a fast-track and makes it unlikely the execution can be rescheduled in November.
State attorneys have argued that drugs would begin expiring after that.
But Nevada's prisons pharmacy chief testified last week in Las Vegas the state has stocks of drugs to carry out an execution into next year.
The order issued Tuesday slows a case involving Nevada and 15 other states with capital punishment.
They're opposing a drugmakers' lawsuit to block Nevada from using their drugs for a lethal injection.
