The Supreme Court divided sharply Tuesday over a death row inmate's request to have a pastor pray and make physical contact during his execution in a case that could reshape religious accommodations for those sentenced to die. During more than 90 minutes of oral argument, several of the court's conservative justices pressed Ramirez's attorney on whether granting his request would prompt a flood of other challenges to state execution policies based on religious grounds. Texas lawyers told the court the state has an interest in limiting the interaction between an inmate and adviser to ensure the death sentence is carried out smoothly. -USA Today
