Williams wants appeal sent to Ark. Appeals Court (UALR Public Radio) - A lawyer for convicted killer Frank Williams Junior is asking the Arkansas Supreme Court to transfer to another court the state's appeal of a ruling that bars Williams' execution next Tuesday.

Attorney Julie Brain says in response to the appeal that the Supreme Court is not the proper court to hear the issues. She asks the Supreme Court to transfer the case to the state Appeals Court. In addition, Brain says the state's motion to expedite a decision should be turned down. She says there is (quote) "simply not enough time to resolve these weighty matters."

The 42-year-old Williams was convicted and sentenced to death in the 1992 slaying of Lafayette County farmer Clyde Spence. Williams worked for Spence but was fired after Spence said Williams broke a tractor.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox ruled last week that the state's lethal-injection procedures put in place last spring cannot be implemented without public review.

The Supreme Court clerk's office says the court could have a decision at any time on any of the issues raised in the appeal.

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