A stay of execution has been issued by the Washington Supreme Court for convicted serial killer Robert Lee Yates Jr. Thursday, putting his execution on hold.

In an application for the stay of execution, Yates said he received ineffective assistance of counsel during his criminal trial and the subsequent penalty phase, reported our partner, The News Tribune of Tacoma.

Justices appointed two attorneys to Yates for his next stage in the appeals process, the newspaper reported.

Earlier this month, a judge in Tacoma signed a death warrant for Yates, setting an execution date of Sept. 19.

The high court ruled last year that Yates received a fair trial and that his death sentence in 2002 was legal.

The former smelter worker and Army National Guard pilot previously pleaded guilty in Spokane to killing 13 women. He avoided the death penalty with a plea deal and got a sentence of 408 years.