Attorneys for a Missouri inmate are trying to persuade courts to delay the execution for their client because of the process of obtaining the lethal drug and the potential for suffering. Their client's execution is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

Lindsay Runnels and Cheryl Pilate, attorneys for Russell Bucklew, argue that he suffers from a rare medical condition and he could suffer during the lethal injection process.

The upcoming death penalty comes just weeks after a botched lethal injection April 29 in Oklahama.

"The state does not have the right to inflict extreme, torturous pain during an execution," Pilate said. "We still hope that Mr. Bucklew's grave medical condition and compromised airway will persuade the governor or a court to step back from this extremely risky execution." 

The problem Bucklew's attorneys say is his medical condition. If given the lethal injection, his airways could become blocked, and he could sufficate to death. His death could take much longer than expected.

Furthermore, there is so much secrecy in Missouri's lethal injections. Almost no one knows everything about the pentobarbital that is used for lethal injections.

As it stands now, Bucklew is headed for the late night execution unless his case goes to the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday night. Only a minority of the justices in the Supreme Court have doubts about Missouri's execution processes.

Gov. Jay Nixon doesn't see any reason to stop the execution from taking place. He said he will listen to Bucklew's case but will likely stay the course and allow the execution.

"This guy committed very, very heinous crimes, and while it's a difficult and challenging part of this job, we'll continue to move forward unless a court says otherwise," Nixon said Monday. 

The Oklahoma botched death punishment was likely cruel and unusual punishment, and Missouri does not want the same disaster to take place. If Bucklew responds abnormally to the injection, that very well could happen.