The state of Alabama is set to resume executions after the Alabama Supreme Court issued a death warrant for death row inmate James Barber.

This comes after Alabama paused executions last November because Gov. Kay Ivey ordered a review of state execution protocol because of two botched lethal injection attempts.

Now that the review is complete, many Alabamian leaders are calling for executions to be resumed.

Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall are part of that group.

According to her office, Ivey requested Marshall issue a new warrant of execution.

“In February, Commissioner John Hamm (Alabama Department of Corrections) informed the governor the “top-to-bottom” review of the state’s execution process was completed,” said Gina Maiola, Ivey’s communications director. “Upon receiving word from Commissioner Hamm, Governor Ivey asked Attorney General Steve Marshall to ask the Supreme Court to issue an execution warrant for an eligible death row inmate whenever he deems appropriate. The governor now has the authority and responsibility to set the time frame for the execution of James Barber.

“According to the Alabama Supreme Court’s order, the execution time frame set by the governor must begin sometime after Friday, June 2, 2023, and Governor Ivey will work with the Alabama Department of Corrections to establish this time frame.”

Marshall said the state is more than ready to continue with executions.

“It is past time for the State of Alabama to resume executions and to provide long-awaited justice for many grieving families,” said Marshall. “My office is prepared to proceed and awaits the Governor’s decision on a date.”

Barber was convicted of the 2001 beating death of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps of Harvest in Madison County. The jury in the case voted 11-1 in favor of the death penalty.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.