Federal judge issues stay for 3 upcoming Ohio executions

A federal judge has issued a stay in the January execution of an Ohio death row inmate and two other inmates scheduled to die in 2017.

The move announced Monday comes amid a challenge of a state law that shields details about the lethal injection drugs the state plans to use.

The order says the stay could be lifted if a federal appeals court hands down a ruling in the related challenge before the scheduled execution of Ronald Phillips on Jan. 12.

A spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says the office is deciding whether or not to appeal it.

Ohio announced in the fall it plans to resume executions for the first time in nearly three years by using a new three-drug combination of lethal chemicals.