Five citizens are continuing their fight to save the life of Marco Allen Chapman, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection Friday night.

The group recently filed a motion asking a Franklin County Circuit Court judge to temporarily halt executions statewide because the Kentucky Department of Corrections failed to allow public comment when it established its execution protocol. The judge denied the motion on Tuesday, and now the group is appealing.

“Marco Chapman’s execution is scheduled for November 21, 2008 and unless enjoined by this court will proceed in accordance with the illegal execution protocol,” Philip Longmeyer - lawyer for the group - wrote in a motion filed yesterday with the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Specifically, they believe the Department of Corrections adopted standards regarding lethal injections without opening the process up to public scrutiny, as required by state law.

It’s an issue currently being considered by the Kentucky Supreme Court (in an unrelated case), but it is unlikely the justices will rule on the matter before Chapman is scheduled to be put to death at 7 p.m. Friday for the 2002 murder of two children.