Delay raises questions about Alabama lethal injection
2 years, 7 months ago

Delay raises questions about Alabama lethal injection

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alabama’s prison commissioner did not explain what caused a lethal injection to be delayed for hours beyond saying staff members were being careful, but others said the time lapse was troubling and raises questions about what happened. “An unexplained, three-hour delay before an execution is highly unusual and very troubling,” Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, wrote in an email Friday. Shortly after the execution, Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said “nothing out of the ordinary” had occurred. Asked if there was difficulty in finding a vein during James' lethal injection, Hamm said: “I don’t know.” Asked whether there was any resistance from James to the preparation, Hamm said: “None that I’m aware of.” James showed no deliberate movements at any point during the portion of the execution witnessed by media, gave no final words and had his eyes closed.

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History of this topic

Alabama executes man who killed five, including pregnant woman, and welcomed his own death sentence
5 months ago

Alabama executes man who killed five, including pregnant woman, and welcomed his own death sentence

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Prior to his execution, Dearman had …

Double killer receives lethal injection execution in Alabama
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Double killer receives lethal injection execution in Alabama

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a motion …

Alabama court says state can make second attempt to execute inmate whose lethal injection failed
1 year, 2 months ago

Alabama court says state can make second attempt to execute inmate whose lethal injection failed

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday rejected the appeal of a death row inmate who is scheduled to be the first person put to death with nitrogen gas and had argued that he shouldn’t face execution after a previous attempt at a lethal injection failed. Justices without dissent rejected arguments that a second attempt to execute Kenneth …

Alabama sets date for first-ever US execution of death row inmate by nitrogen gas in 2024, governor says
1 year, 4 months ago

Alabama sets date for first-ever US execution of death row inmate by nitrogen gas in 2024, governor says

CNN  

CNN — Alabama has scheduled the nation’s first execution by nitrogen hypoxia, an alternative to lethal injection, its Republican governor said. The new development in Smith’s case comes after Alabama paused executions last fall and reviewed its execution process after problems with lethal injections came into the national spotlight. Alabama finalized the first-ever execution protocols for the new method in …

Alabama to carry out first lethal injection after review of execution procedures
1 year, 8 months ago

Alabama to carry out first lethal injection after review of execution procedures

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alabama plans to execute an …

Alabama's last two executions failed. They're trying again next week
1 year, 8 months ago

Alabama's last two executions failed. They're trying again next week

NPR  

Alabama's last two executions failed. DETROW: After the failed execution of Smith, Governor Kay Ivey put a pause on executions in order to, quote, "top-to-bottom review of the state's death penalty protocol." So what do Alabama's failed executions say about the future of death by lethal injection? But after the failed execution that we heard about earlier of Kenneth Smith, …

Alabama governor says state will resume executions
2 years ago

Alabama governor says state will resume executions

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said Friday that the state is ready to resume executions and “obtain justice” for victims’ families after lethal injections were paused for three months for an internal review of the state’s death penalty procedures. The governor in November directed the state prison system to undertake a “top-to-bottom” review of death penalty procedures after …

Alabama to resume executions after multiple failed injections prompted system review, governor says
2 years, 1 month ago

Alabama to resume executions after multiple failed injections prompted system review, governor says

CNN  

CNN — Alabama will resume the executions of death row inmates, the governor said Friday, three months after multiple failed lethal injections prompted an internal review of the state’s capital punishment system. In November, Ivey asked Marshall to pause executions and requested the state Department of Corrections to conduct a “top-to-bottom review of the state’s execution process” after problems with …

Alabama extends time for executions, ends automatic review
2 years, 2 months ago

Alabama extends time for executions, ends automatic review

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama has changed death penalty procedures to give the prison system more time to carry out executions — a move that comes after a string of troubled lethal injections in the state — and also eliminated an automatic review for trial errors in death penalty cases. Kay Ivey’s office called the time window change a “win for …

Alabama governor seeks more time to carry out executions
2 years, 3 months ago

Alabama governor seeks more time to carry out executions

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. “In several recent executions, last-minute gamesmanship by death row inmates and their lawyers has consumed a lot of valuable time, preventing the department from carrying out its execution protocol between the conclusion of all legal challenges in the federal courts and the expiration at the death warrant issued by your court,” Ivey wrote. While Ivey …

Alabama ‘execution survivor’ reaches settlement with state
2 years, 3 months ago

Alabama ‘execution survivor’ reaches settlement with state

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala — Alabama won’t seek another lethal injection date for an inmate whose September execution had been halted because of problems establishing an intravenous line, according to the terms of a settlement agreement approved on Monday. Miller had argued that the state lost paperwork stating he picked nitrogen hypoxia as his execution method and then subjected him to torture …

Alabama pausing executions after 3rd failed lethal injection
2 years, 4 months ago

Alabama pausing executions after 3rd failed lethal injection

Associated Press  

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey sought a pause in executions and ordered a “top-to-bottom” review of the state’s capital punishment system Monday after an unprecedented third failed lethal injection. Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said the department is fully committed to the review and is “confident that we can get this done right.” “Everything is on the table — …

Alabama governor asks to pause executions and review system after recent lethal injections halted
2 years, 4 months ago

Alabama governor asks to pause executions and review system after recent lethal injections halted

CNN  

CNN — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has asked the state’s attorney general to pause executions and requested a “top-to-bottom” review of the state’s capital punishment system following multiple failed lethal injections. “Ivey on Monday asked Attorney General Steve Marshall to withdraw the state’s two pending motions to set execution dates in the cases of Alan Eugene Miller and James Edward …

Alabama is pausing executions after a 3rd failed lethal injection
2 years, 4 months ago

Alabama is pausing executions after a 3rd failed lethal injection

NPR  

Alabama is pausing executions after a 3rd failed lethal injection Enlarge this image Sue Ogrocki/AP Sue Ogrocki/AP BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey sought a pause in executions and ordered a "top-to-bottom" review of the state's capital punishment system Monday after an unprecedented third failed lethal injection. The Death Penalty Information Center, an anti-death-penalty group with a large database …

Alabama Fails To Complete Lethal Injection For 3rd Time
2 years, 4 months ago

Alabama Fails To Complete Lethal Injection For 3rd Time

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s string of troubled lethal injections, which worsened late Thursday as prison workers aborted another execution because of a problem with intravenous lines, is unprecedented nationally, a group that tracks capital punishment said Friday. A leader at the Death Penalty Information Center, an anti-death penalty group with a large database on executions, said no …

Alabama fails to complete lethal injection for 3rd time
2 years, 4 months ago

Alabama fails to complete lethal injection for 3rd time

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s string of troubled lethal injections, which worsened late Thursday as prison workers aborted another execution because of a problem with intravenous lines, is unprecedented nationally, a group that tracks capital punishment said Friday. A leader at the Death Penalty Information Center, an anti-death penalty group with a large database on executions, said no state other than …

EXPLAINER: Why are states having lethal injection problems?
2 years, 4 months ago

EXPLAINER: Why are states having lethal injection problems?

Associated Press  

OKLAHOMA CITY — A scheduled execution in Alabama that was called off Thursday after prison officials couldn’t find a suitable vein to inject the lethal drugs into is the latest in a long history of problems with lethal injections since Texas became the first state to use the execution method in 1982, including delays in finding usable veins. Numerous other …

EXPLAINER: Why are states having lethal injection problems?
2 years, 4 months ago

EXPLAINER: Why are states having lethal injection problems?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A scheduled execution in Alabama …

Alabama fails to complete lethal injection for 3rd time
2 years, 4 months ago

Alabama fails to complete lethal injection for 3rd time

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alabama's string of troubled lethal …

When Death Must Wait: Alabama calls off execution after problem with inserting IV
2 years, 4 months ago

When Death Must Wait: Alabama calls off execution after problem with inserting IV

Firstpost  

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said prison staff tried for about an hour to get the two required intravenous lines connected to Kenneth Eugene Smith, 57 ATMORE: Alabama’s execution of a man convicted in the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher’s wife was called off Thursday just before the midnight deadline because state officials couldn’t find a suitable …

After difficulties with injection, Alabama cancels execution greenlighted by Supreme Court
2 years, 4 months ago

After difficulties with injection, Alabama cancels execution greenlighted by Supreme Court

LA Times  

Kenneth Eugene Smith, 57, was sentenced to death in the 1988 murder-for-hire slaying of a preacher’s wife and was to have been executed Thursday. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said prison staff tried for about an hour to get the two required intravenous lines connected to Kenneth Eugene Smith, 57. The postponement came after Smith’s final appeals, which …

Alabama execution set in murder-for-hire of preacher's wife
2 years, 4 months ago

Alabama execution set in murder-for-hire of preacher's wife

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alabama is preparing to execute …

Execution of Alabama death row prisoner is called off, state official says, citing time constraints from late-night court battle
2 years, 4 months ago

Execution of Alabama death row prisoner is called off, state official says, citing time constraints from late-night court battle

CNN  

CNN — Alabama corrections officials Thursday cited time constraints caused by a late-night court battle in halting the scheduled execution of a death row prisoner – the second time in as many months the state failed to carry out an execution before the expiration of a death warrant. Smith’s execution was called off at about 11:20 p.m. “due to the …

Judge dismisses lawsuit over upcoming lethal injection
2 years, 5 months ago

Judge dismisses lawsuit over upcoming lethal injection

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala — A federal judge dismissed an inmate’s claim seeking to block his upcoming execution in Alabama because of reported problems at a recent lethal injection. But U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. also warned Alabama’s prison commissioner to strictly follow established protocol when officials attempt to put Smith to death next month. Smith’s attorneys pointed to a …

Attorneys: Inmate endured ‘torture’ during execution attempt
2 years, 5 months ago

Attorneys: Inmate endured ‘torture’ during execution attempt

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala — An Alabama inmate said prison staff poked him with needles for over an hour as they tried to find a vein during an aborted lethal injection last month. Attorneys for 57-year-old Alan Eugene Miller wrote about his experience during Alabama’s Sept. 22 execution attempt in a court filing made last week. The attorneys called Miller the “only …

Court orders Alabama to preserve evidence after ‘Kafkaesque’ botched midnight execution
2 years, 5 months ago

Court orders Alabama to preserve evidence after ‘Kafkaesque’ botched midnight execution

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Following the failed execution, Alabama’s third since 2018, …

Judge: State must preserve evidence from halted execution
2 years, 6 months ago

Judge: State must preserve evidence from halted execution

Associated Press  

ATMORE, Ala. — A federal judge on Friday ordered Alabama to preserve records and medical supplies associated with a lethal injection attempt after the prison system acknowledged multiple attempts to access the inmate’s veins before calling off the execution. U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. issued the order at the request of the inmate’s lawyers who are trying to …

Alabama calls off execution for time and medical concerns
2 years, 6 months ago

Alabama calls off execution for time and medical concerns

NPR  

Alabama calls off execution for time and medical concerns Enlarge this image toggle caption Dave Martin/AP Dave Martin/AP ATMORE, Ala. — Alabama officials called off the Thursday lethal injection of a man convicted in a 1999 workplace shooting because of time concerns and trouble accessing the inmate's veins. Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said the state halted the scheduled execution …

State opposes lawsuit to block execution of Alabama inmate
2 years, 6 months ago

State opposes lawsuit to block execution of Alabama inmate

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The state asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an Alabama inmate who is trying to halt his lethal injection later this month by arguing officials lost paperwork in which he selected an alternate execution method. The lawsuit by Alan Eugene Miller, who was convicted of killing three men in a workplace shooting in …

Alabama man’s execution was botched, advocacy group alleges
2 years, 6 months ago

Alabama man’s execution was botched, advocacy group alleges

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama corrections officials apparently botched an inmate’s execution last month, an anti-death penalty group alleges, citing the length of time that passed before the prisoner received the lethal injection and a private autopsy indicating his arm may have been cut to find a vein. “States cannot continue to pretend that the abhorrent practice of lethal injection is …

Death by lethal injection: It is time for more transparency
2 years, 7 months ago

Death by lethal injection: It is time for more transparency

Al Jazeera  

An apparently botched execution in Alabama raises questions about the use of medicine as an arm of state power. Regardless of how one might feel about the rightness or wrongness of capital punishment, it still must comport with the law and not violate the 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution, which bars “cruel and unusual punishments.” Yet if accounts …

Alabama says delay in execution caused by IV line issue
2 years, 7 months ago

Alabama says delay in execution caused by IV line issue

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s prison system said Friday that the execution of an Alabama inmate was delayed because of the time it took to establish an intravenous line to the inmate. The execution was set for 6 p.m. CDT, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied James’ request for a stay at 5:24 p.m. Reporters were taken to the grounds of …

Alabama killer is executed following a final phone call to his mother
2 years, 7 months ago

Alabama killer is executed following a final phone call to his mother

Daily Mail  

An Alabama inmate who shot his girlfriend dead nearly three decades ago was executed by lethal injection Thursday night after having a final phone call with his mother and despite pleas from the victim's family for clemency. Joe Nathan James Jr., 50, received a lethal injection at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore after the US Supreme Court denied …

Alabama governor ignores wishes of victim’s family to set execution date for man who killed girlfriend
2 years, 7 months ago

Alabama governor ignores wishes of victim’s family to set execution date for man who killed girlfriend

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The governor of Alabama …

Alabama gov: Execution set despite wishes of victim’s family
2 years, 7 months ago

Alabama gov: Execution set despite wishes of victim’s family

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama’s governor said Wednesday that she has decided the state will proceed later this week with a plan to execute a man convicted of killing his former girlfriend decades ago, overriding a plea from the victim’s family to spare the man’s life. But Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall urged Ivey to let execution plans proceed and ensure …

Alabama Supreme Court sets execution date for inmate
2 years, 9 months ago

Alabama Supreme Court sets execution date for inmate

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Supreme Court has set an execution date of July 28 for a man convicted of killing his one-time girlfriend after breaking into her home in Jefferson County almost three decades ago, according to a court order made public Monday. Courts have since rejected appeals by James including claims that his lawyers were ineffective, and the …

Supreme Court considers Alabama's bid to allow execution
3 years, 1 month ago

Supreme Court considers Alabama's bid to allow execution

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The U.S. Supreme Court considered …

Oklahoma death row inmate who requested firing squad executed by lethal injection
3 years, 1 month ago

Oklahoma death row inmate who requested firing squad executed by lethal injection

CNN  

CNN — An Oklahoma death row inmate who had requested execution by firing squad was executed by lethal injection on Thursday, according to the state Department of Corrections. Grant and another death row inmate, Gilbert Postelle, had asked a federal judge to intervene and allow their executions by firing squad rather than lethal injection. Grant was sentenced to death for …

Alabama: Death row inmate who survived a botched execution attempt dies of cancer
3 years, 3 months ago

Alabama: Death row inmate who survived a botched execution attempt dies of cancer

CNN  

CNN — An Alabama death row inmate who survived a botched execution attempt in 2018 has died. The State of Alabama attempted to execute Hamm by lethal injection in February 2018, but failed after staff and medical personnel worked for 2 1/2 hours to find veins in his groin, feet and legs. Harcourt called the execution attempt “botched and bloody” …

Willie B. Smith III: Alabama death row inmate is executed nearly 30 years after murder conviction
3 years, 5 months ago

Willie B. Smith III: Alabama death row inmate is executed nearly 30 years after murder conviction

CNN  

CNN — Alabama death row inmate Willie B. Smith III was executed Thursday night, the state attorney general’s office announced, after the US Supreme Court declined to hear an 11th-hour appeal. “The family of Sharma Johnson has had to wait 29 years, 11 months, and 25 days to see the sentence of Sharma’s murderer be carried out,” state Attorney General …

Alabama only state to limit media to 1 witness at execution
3 years, 5 months ago

Alabama only state to limit media to 1 witness at execution

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama will be the third state to carry out an execution during the COVID-19 pandemic and will be the only prison system to reduce the number of news media witnesses to a single reporter. The Alabama Department of Corrections said because of COVID-19 precautions only one reporter, a representative of The Associated Press, will be allowed to …

Alabama inmate who wanted nitrogen spared lethal injection
5 years, 11 months ago

Alabama inmate who wanted nitrogen spared lethal injection

Associated Press  

ATMORE, Ala. — An Alabama inmate convicted in the 1991 sword-and-dagger slaying of a pastor was spared a lethal injection when his death warrant expired before a divided U.S. Supreme Court voted early Friday to let the execution proceed. Justice Neil Gorsuch’s said judges should guard against efforts to use challenges to the method of execution “as tools to interpose …

Supreme Court says the execution of Alabama inmate can go forward hours after it was called off
5 years, 11 months ago

Supreme Court says the execution of Alabama inmate can go forward hours after it was called off

CNN  

CNN — The Supreme Court said early Friday that the execution of Alabama death row inmate Christopher Lee Price can go forward in the fourth major death penalty case this year that has justices feuding openly. In the unsigned order, the majority said that death row inmates in Alabama had the choice back in 2018 to elect to “be executed …

Court: Alabama can’t keep its lethal injection method secret
6 years ago

Court: Alabama can’t keep its lethal injection method secret

Associated Press  

ATLANTA — A federal appeals court sided with news media organizations Monday in ruling that Alabama can’t keep its lethal injection protocol secret from the public. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta rejected Alabama’s argument that its execution method is not a court record and thus should remain secret. Monday’s decision upheld a federal judge’s ruling last year that the …

Capital Prisoners Entitled To Humane Death: Justice Sotomayor Terms ‘Three-Drug Cocktail’ Execution Method In Tennessee As ‘State-Sponsored Brutality’
6 years, 5 months ago

Capital Prisoners Entitled To Humane Death: Justice Sotomayor Terms ‘Three-Drug Cocktail’ Execution Method In Tennessee As ‘State-Sponsored Brutality’

Live Law  

“The longer we stand silent amid growing evidence of inhumanity in execution methods like Tennessee’s, the longer we extend our own complicity in state- “The longer we stand silent amid growing evidence of inhumanity in execution methods like Tennessee’s, the longer we extend our own complicity in state- Justice Sonia Sotomayor, once again, dissented with SCOTUS that denied a stay …

Capital Prisoners Entitled To Humane Death: Justice Sotomayor Terms ‘Three-Drug Cocktail’ Execution Method In Tennessee As ‘State-Sponsored Brutality’
6 years, 5 months ago

Capital Prisoners Entitled To Humane Death: Justice Sotomayor Terms ‘Three-Drug Cocktail’ Execution Method In Tennessee As ‘State-Sponsored Brutality’

Live Law  

“The longer we stand silent amid growing evidence of inhumanity in execution methods like Tennessee’s, the longer we extend our own complicity in state- “The longer we stand silent amid growing evidence of inhumanity in execution methods like Tennessee’s, the longer we extend our own complicity in state- Justice Sonia Sotomayor, once again, dissented with SCOTUS that denied a stay …

Death row inmate sues after ‘botched’ execution
7 years ago

Death row inmate sues after ‘botched’ execution

CNN  

Story highlights A death row inmate whose execution was "botched and bloody" is asking not to be put to death His attorneys cite cruel and unusual punishment and double jeopardy in court filings CNN — An Alabama death row inmate whose execution went wrong is asking that his death sentence be vacated. In two civil actions filed Wednesdaywith the Alabama …

Alabama’s aborted execution was ‘botched and bloody,’ lawyer says
7 years ago

Alabama’s aborted execution was ‘botched and bloody,’ lawyer says

CNN  

Story highlights The execution was halted because of legal deadline pressure, prison chief says Inmate "wanted to die rather than that continue going on," his attorney says CNN — A federal judge has ordered Alabama prison officials to preserve all evidence related to an aborted execution, including the clothing the inmate wore, following an unsuccessful lethal injection attempt that the …

Alabama Likely To Botch The Execution Of An Already Dying Man
7 years, 1 month ago

Alabama Likely To Botch The Execution Of An Already Dying Man

Huff Post  

UPDATE, Feb. 23, 2018, 1:25 a.m.: The Alabama Department of Corrections has called off Hamm’s execution. UPDATE, Feb. 22, 2018, 6 p.m.: The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay of execution in the case of Doyle Lee Hamm, according to Alabama media. His age and advanced cranial and lymphatic cancer make it likely his execution will result in …

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