1. (1) Except as provided in this section, a court, tribunal, or officer, other than the governor or the Board of Pardons and Parole, may not stay or suspend the execution of a sentence of death.
2. (2) A court may only stay the execution of a sentence of death as described in Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 27.

3. (3)

   1. (a) The executive director of the Department of Corrections, or the executive director's designee, may temporarily suspend the execution of a sentence of death under Section 77-19-202 if the individual sentenced to death appears to be incompetent or pregnant.

   2. (b) A temporary suspension under Subsection (3)(a) shall end if the individual is determined to be:

      1. (i) competent;
      2. (ii) not pregnant; or
      3. (iii) no longer incompetent or pregnant.
4. (4) If a stay is vacated or expires before the day on which the sentence is to be executed and the sentence remains in force, the issuance of a new order of execution and warrant is not required to execute the sentence.

Amended by Chapter 345, 2026 General Session