The US Supreme Court has granted a death row inmate the right to have a priest at his side as he is executed. 

John Ramirez, who is currently imprisoned in Texas, had his initial request denied by the state. 

The 37-year-old was due to face execution in September 2020, but plans were halted just hours before the process was set to begin. 

Ramirez was sentenced to death for the robbery and fatal stabbing of a shop clerk in 2004.

The Supreme Court has found that the decision to deny Ramirez access to a priest encroaches on his religious liberties.

The pastor will now be able to lay hands on him and pray over him as he dies. 

The decision follows years of discussion surrounding the right of death row prisoners to invite religious leaders to their execution. 

Pastors are now allowed to enter the chamber, following stringent security checks, but are not usually allowed to touch the person undergoing lethal injection. 

The prison system has long denied the requests, for fears surrounding security within the chamber. 

Justice Brett Kavanaugh argued that allowing a priest to attend the execution of John Ramirez would open the door to more prisoners making similar requests, which could use up valuable court time.