Fate of execution secrecy bill may await high court’s ruling

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina legislators may await a U.S. Supreme Court decision before voting on a bill prison officials say will help secure a drug needed to execute an inmate.

House Judiciary Chairman Greg Delleney said Thursday he sees no urgent reason to get ahead of a ruling. The next execution may be years away.

A Judiciary subcommittee took no action on a bill that keeps secret the information of anyone who provides execution drugs.

Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling says that should enable his agency to buy a drug used in the state’s three-drug lethal injection. The state’s supply of pentobarbital expired in 2013.

The nation’s high court will hear arguments later this month on whether Oklahoma’s three-drug execution mix is constitutional.

Stirling notes that case involves a different drug.