ROW PRISONERS HAVE SOUGHT UNSUCCESSFULLY IN THE PAST TO HAVE COURTS BAR LETHAL INJECTION, THE MORALES CASE HAS GIVEN NEW HOPE TO OPPONENTS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. ON WEDNESDAY, THE U.S SUPREME COURT HEARD A CASE RELATED TO LETHAL INJECTION AND SEVERAL JUSTICES ASKED STATE AND U.S. GOVERNMENT LAWYERS WHETHER LETHAL INJECTIONS CAUSED EXCRUCIATING PAIN. "IT'S A TOPIC THAT'S HOT RIGHT NOW BUT ULTIMATELY WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WHEN ALL THE EVIDENCE IS PRESENTED THAT WE WILL PREVAIL AND BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR PROCEDURE IS AND HAS BEEN WHOLLY CONSTITUTIONAL," DANE GILLETTE, CALIFORNIA'S SENIOR ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, TOLD REUTERS. HE PREDICTED CALIFORNIA WOULD RESUME EXECUTIONS BY LATER THIS YEAR. MORALES HAS CONFESSED TO THE 1983 TORTURE, RAPE AND MURDER OF 17-YEAR-OLD TERRI WINCHELL.
