U.S. Justice Department would take halted executions to high court

WASHINGTON - Attorney General William Barr told The Associated Press on Thursday that he would take the Trump administration's bid to restart federal executions after a 16-year hiatus to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Barr's comments came hours after a district court judge temporarily blocked the administration's plans to start executions next month. The administration is appealing the decision, and Barr said he would take the case to the high court if Thursday's ruling stands.

http://www.startribune.com/judge-temporarily-stops-1st-federal-execution-in-16-years/565272272/