Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A hearing date has been set for a judge to consider an execution warrant petition for death row inmate Ronnie Lee Gardner.
Third District Judge Robin Reese will hear state prosecutors' arguments April 12.
If the warrant is signed, the Utah Department of Corrections would hold the execution on a date that is more than 30 days, but less than 60 days, from Reese's decision.
The 49-year-old Gardner was sentenced to death for the April 1985 courthouse shooting death of attorney Michael Burdell during a failed escape attempt.
Assistant Utah Attorney General Thomas Brunker says Gardner has exhausted all of his state and federal avenues for appeal. Brunker filed the petition last week after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request from Gardner's attorney for a review of the case.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
