[JURIST] In what is to be New England's first execution in 45 years, a Connecticut judge has set a new May 11 execution date for convicted killer Michael Ross [About.com profile] and appointed a special counsel to investigate claims by Ross' lawyer and family that Ross is incompetent to waive his remaining his appeals, thus expediting his execution. Ross' execution has been postponed several times in recent weeks, and was put off again late last last month at the eleventh-hour [JURIST report] when Ross' lawyer, T.R. Paulding, expressed concerns that his client, who had expressed a wish to die, was incompetent. The special counsel, Hartford lawyer Thomas Groark, will take up the position that Ross is incompetent, while Paulding is likely to stay on [Hartford Courant report] to support his client's efforts to bring about his execution. Ross has agreed to cooperate with the inquiry into his competency, but has asked that his visits with a psychiatrist be taped to prevent further challenges. AP has more.