Federal appeals court reverses Tennessee death penalty case

A federal appeals court on Friday reversed a death penalty case prosecuted by Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich because the FBI paid a key witness $750 but the witness lied about it under oath. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the prosecutor had a duty to disclose the payment instead of allowing the witness to commit perjury.

Court considers constitutionality of Ohio execution process

A federal appeals court will hear arguments Tuesday over the constitutionality of Ohio’s lethal injection process as the state tries to start carrying out executions once again. At issue is whether a contested sedative, midazolam, is powerful enough to put inmates into a deep state of unconsciousness before two subsequent drugs paralyze them and stop their hearts.

State still must deliver water to Flint residents, federal court rules

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit denied a request by the state and by the city of Flint to stop an order requiring the state to immediately provide water delivery services to Flint residents at no cost. The decision came after state and city officials appealed an order from a federal judge issuing a preliminary injunction ordering the state to have bottled water delivered to Flint residents unless officials can prove there is an operating, properly-installed water filter in their home – a move that state officials say may cause other water crisis efforts to suffer.