California building new execution chamber

SACRAMENTO, April 14 (UPI) -- California has been quietly building a larger death chamber at San Quentin Prison to meet a federal judge's criticism of its execution process.

The new facility is about twice the size of the current one, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. It includes three rooms for witnesses, more space for the official preparing the lethal injection and a cell where condemned prisoners can meet with spiritual advisers immediately before their executions.

But members of the state Legislature are angry that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger began the work without any notice. Legislators only learned the facility was being prepared when two policy analysts visited San Quentin.

U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel ordered the state Department of Corrections to present a plan by May 15 to fix problems with the execution system.