RICHMOND – Gov. Tim Kaine has called for a halt on executions in Virginia until the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling in a case challenging the constitutionality of lethal injection.

Kaine said this afternoon he will temporarily stay the scheduled April 8 execution of Edward Nathaniel Bell until the Supreme Court issues a much anticipated ruling in a Kentucky case challenging the lethal injection process.

"This temporary reprieve will allow for issuance of the Supreme Court decision and consideration of whether its outcome has any effect upon the merits of Mr. Bell’s legal claims or request for clemency," Kaine said in a statement explaining his decision.

“Stays in the final hours before an execution can take an emotional and physical toll on those who must prepare for the execution, including the family members of the victim or victims.

Bell was convicted of capital murder for the 1999 shooting death of Winchester police Sgt. Rick Timbrook. Timbrook's widow appeared in a 2005 campaign ad for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore, who sharply criticized Kaine for his outspoken objections to the death penalty. Kaine repeatedly said he would not allow his moral objections to the death penalty to prevent him from allowing executions to go forward, and as governor he has allowed four executions to proceed.

But no executions have been carried out in the U.S. since Sept. 25, when the Supreme Court agreed to take the case of two Kentucky death row inmates who argue that the lethal injection process – which involves the use of a three-drug "cocktail" – represents cruel and unusual punishment. The court in October stayed the scheduled Virginia execution of Christopher Scott Emmett. About 30 executions in 13 states have been stayed since the court agreed to take the Kentucky case, Kaine said.

Kaine postponed Bell's execution until July 24 and said he will delay other executions scheduled to occur before the court issues its ruling, which is expected in mid-July. Kaine's decision also could affect the scheduled May 27 execution of Kevin Green, who is on death row for a 1998 robbery and murder in Brunswick County.