Baze, Rees, Bell and Kaine

This morning's decision in Baze v. Rees has legal circles in a flutter, and for good reason. Executions around the country had been placed on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of lethal injection protocols used in Kentucky.

We'll post statements, developments and reactions here throughout the day as they hit the Cheap Seats inbox.

Gov. Kaine's statement via Press Secretary Gordon Hickey:

"In light of the Supreme Court ruling, executions will move forward according to the procedures that were in place prior to the Court's agreement to hear Baze last September. The Governor will continue to review any clemency requests on a case-by-case basis."

Republican Attorney General Bob McDonnell:

"The Supreme Court has rejected a procedural challenge to Kentucky's administration of lethal injection. Now that the Court has ruled, the Governor has rightly lifted his moratorium on executions in Virginia. This office will continue, as always, to defend the Commonwealth's authority to carry out the sentences handed down by Virginia courts, and the constitutionality of Virginia's duly enacted statutes."

UPDATE 1

Blog reaction at  Bearing Drift:

Despite what some would have you think (cough Kaine cough), this was not about whether lethal injection itself was "cruel and unusual punishment." It was about what might happen if one of the injections failed.

Legal eagle blog reaction at The Volokh Conspiracy.

UPDATE 2

More blawg reaction at SCOTUS Blog.