Court of Appeal paves the way for the execution of the only woman sentenced to death at the federal level

On Friday, a federal appeals court paved the way for the execution of the only woman on death row later this month.

According to the Associated Press, the three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that a lower court judge improperly overturned Lisa Montgomery’s execution date last week.

U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss had delayed the execution initially scheduled for December to Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Ind., after Montgomery’s lawyers contracted COVID-19 while visiting their client.

Moss banned the Bureau of Prisons from carrying out the execution until the end of the year, and officials postponed it until January 12. at the time.

The appeals committee on Friday, however, disagreed with the decision, paving the way for Montgomery’s execution just days before the president-elect. Joe bidenJoe BidenBidens pays tribute to frontline workers in New York: ‘We owe them, we owe them, we owe them’ Trump hotel in DC raises room rates for Biden inauguration Video shows long queues on the last day of early voting in Georgia PLUSinauguration of.

The Trump administration resumed federal executions this year after a 17-year hiatus in practice, execute more prisoners in 2020 that all states that still apply the death penalty together, according to a recent report by the Information Center on the Death Penalty.

Montgomery’s lawyers have tried to prevent his execution, citing serious mental illness, and Biden has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the death penalty.

Although Biden has not indicated whether he will end federal executions when he takes office, a spokesperson, TJ Ducklo, said the former vice president will aim to end the practice, reported the AP.

Montgomery was convicted in 2007 of strangling a woman who was eight months pregnant in 2004. Montgomery removed the unborn child, who survived, from Bobbie Jo Stinnet’s womb after the murder.

Prosecutors said Montgomery then took the girl with her and tried to pass her off as his own.