WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a further review by a lower court of a lawsuit brought by a Texas death row inmate who objects to a policy that bars a chaplain from accompanying him into the death chamber.
The justices ordered Ruben Gutierrez’s case sent back to a federal trial-level court for additional proceedings. The justices in June had blocked Gutierrez’s execution after Texas changed its policy and barred all spiritual advisers from the death chamber.
Gutierrezs attorneys argue his religious rights are being violated. The justices in June had asked a lower court to determine whether there would be serious security problems if Texas’ death row inmates were allowed to choose spiritual advisers to accompany them into the death chamber. The lower court said no.
On Monday, in a brief order, the high court sent the case back to the trial court. The justices said that given the lower court’s findings that there would be no serious security problems if…