Tennessee judge puts death row inmate’s lawsuit on hold

By TRAVIS LOLLER
Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee judge has put on hold a case from a death row inmate alleging mistreatment by prison officials. The stay of no more than 90 days is to allow Henry Hodges time to exhaust his administrative appeals. Hodges cut off his penis in October while on suicide watch. His lawsuit accuses the state of providing inadequate medical and mental health care, among other things. At a Monday hearing, the judge said state law requires her to stay the case so Hodges can go through the prison grievance process first. However, the judge will still hear arguments from The Associated Press and the Nashville Banner on Friday about public access to records in the case.