OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  The Nebraska Supreme Court has put on hold the execution of an inmate condemned to die for two 1985 cult-related slayings at a farm near Rulo.

Michael Ryan's execution had been set for March 6. His attorney, Jerrie Soucie, with the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy had filed a motion with the state's high court last week asking for a stay of execution while a lower court considers his request to have Ryan's sentence commuted to life in prison.

The state supreme court granted Soucie's motion on Thursday, noting that Ryan's postconviction filing in Richardson County District Court was reason enough to put Ryan's execution on hold.