ACLU Petition to IACHR on Missouri Execution That Will Cause Irreparable Harm

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a request for precautionary measures with the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Commission on Human Rights showing that the execution of John Winfield, scheduled for June 18, 2014 in the state of Missouri, will cause irreparable harm should it go forward. The ACLU asks that the executions be stayed until the IACHR can review and rule on the ACLU’s petition that alleges Mr. Winfield’s death sentence violates international law. On June 6, 2014, the IACHR granted ACLU request for precautionary measures against the United States and requested that “the Government of the United States to abstain from executing John Winfield until the IACHR has ruled on the merits of the individual petition filed on his behalf.”