Kansas City, Missouri - A federal judge in Missouri denied 19-year-old Khorry Ramey's request to be allowed to watch her father's execution, upholding a state law which bars those under 21 from being present during an execution.

Khorry Ramey's father Kevin Johnson is set to be executed Tuesday over the 2005 killing Kirkwood police officer William McEntee.

Ramey and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had filed an emergency motion with a federal court in Kansas City to allow Ramey to witness her father's execution. The ACLU argued that the age requirement served no safety purpose and violates Ramey’s constitutional rights.

US District Judge Brian C. Wimes disagreed and ruled late Friday that Ramey’s constitutional rights would not be violated, per multiple outlets.

Judge Wimes acknowledged that though the Missouri Law which bars Ramey from witnessing the execution would cause her emotional harm, it does not violate her rights.

In a statement, Ramey said, "I’m heartbroken that I won’t be able to be with my dad in his last moments. My dad is the most important person in my life. He has been there for me my whole life, even though he’s been incarcerated."

Johnson's lawyers have multiple appeals pending to spare his life.

They aren't challenging his guilty verdict, but they are claiming racism played a role in the jury's decision to sentence him to death. Officer William McEntee was white, and Johnson is Black.

They are also asking the court to intervene due to Johnson's age at the time of the crime and history of mental illness.

Since the US Supreme Court banned execution for offenders who were younger than 18in 2005, courts have become less likely to sentence teen offenders to death. Johnson was 19 at the time of his crime.

The Missouri attorney general’s office stated there were no grounds for court intervention: "The surviving victims of Johnson’s crimes have waited long enough for justice, and every day longer that they must wait is a day they are denied the chance to finally make peace with their loss."

Activists in several cities in Missouri have planned caravans on November 29 – the planned day of execution – to call for clemency for Kevin Johnson.