Rhoades presses last-minute appeals

Late yesterday, condemned killer Paul Ezra Rhoades filed a petition for a rehearing en banc by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals of his bid for a stay of execution; today, the appellate court rejected that motion. He also filed an additional motion for a stay of execution, this time arguing that another pending federal court case could provide grounds for Rhoades to seek a stay based on ineffective assistance of counsel, because his lawyers didn’t have him tested for brain damage. Today, the 9th Circuit denied that motion as well; you can read that decision here . Now, Rhoades has filed a petition and application for a stay with the U.S. Supreme Court.