By Brett Barrouquere -- Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky has acquired a key drug used in lethal injections from a Georgia company, but can't schedule any executions because of a judge's order in a single case.
Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet spokeswoman Jennifer Brislin told The Associated Press on Tuesday that 18 grams of sodium thiopental arrived at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville last week.
Brislin said the drug's packing says it was made by Sandoz GmbH, a European generics company. It expires in May 2014.
The drug, one of three used in a lethal injection, has been in short supply since the sole maker of it in the United States, Hospira Inc. of Lake Forest, Ill. halted production.
The Kentucky Supreme Court is reviewing a judge's order in a case regarding the state's lethal injection procedures and has halted all executions in the interim.