Yesterday, I asked you to weigh in on the death penalty debate in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision that executing death row prisoners by lethal injection does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment. One would assume, to the chagrin of those who don't believe in capital punishment, that the new ruling will speed up executions, which been on hold all over while the court made its decision. But, according to the New York Times, the ruling might slow the process down in many states as lawyers for death row inmates try to navigate the new legal standards.

Proponents of the death penalty are pleased with the decision, but one admits that the Supreme Court failed to "completely slam the door and lock it." Opponents say the ruling only opens the door for more litigation.

Lawyers representing death row inmates said the plurality opinion presented them two challenges. One is to distinguish their state’s procedures from that used in Kentucky. The other is to overcome the high evidentiary bar Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. set for all challenges to methods of execution.

Experts agree that the quick-to-kill states — Texas, Alabama, etc. — will have execution dates lined up before we know it. Yay.