Judge To Decide If Death-Row Inmates Need Air Conditioning

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As summer approaches in Louisiana, prison officials insist that ice, fans and cold showers are enough to protect death-row inmates from dangerous heat and humidity.

If not, a federal judge may insist on air conditioning for inmates awaiting execution at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.

U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson questioned Friday why prison officials won't spend roughly $1 million to install the air conditioning, since the state has already spent much more money fighting this issue in court. The judge already ruled it unconstitutional to keep inmates where the heat index exceeds 88 degrees.

Louisiana's heat index can soar above 100 as temperatures and humidity levels rise.

Jackson scheduled the next hearing for June 15.