Propublica has a good behind-the-scenes take on it: https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-trump-and-barrs-last-minute-killing-spree https://www.propublica.

Propublica has a good behind-the-scenes take on it: https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-trump-and-barrs-last-minute-killing-spree https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-trump-and-barrs-la... In short, there has been a push to resume executions for nearly ten years, and it has accelerated during Trump's presidency (he campaigned on a strong pro-execution platform). In summer 2019 a shortlist was made of prisoners already on Death Row, whose appeals had failed. They then moved as quickly as they could to schedule the executions, quash further appeals and pass litigation to make them happen.