Tennessee gov: No new details yet why he canceled execution
2 years, 11 months ago

Tennessee gov: No new details yet why he canceled execution

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. The night before, the Republican governor had issued a statement saying there had been an “oversight in preparation for lethal injection” as he granted a temporary reprieve to 72-year-old inmate Oscar Smith. Lewis said Smith was “stunned” by the news and had been “fully preparing to die in the next hour.” Smith’s reprieve is in effect until the beginning of June, but in the interim, attorneys and death penalty watchdog groups are already calling for an independent investigation into the matter. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice later said the incident was “preventable and inexcusable.” In Oklahoma, the state’s use of a new drug combination in 2014 led to a botched execution where the inmate writhed and clenched his teeth on the gurney before eventually dying from a heart attack. Correction officials later said the execution was carried out “without complication.” And in 2015, Georgia prison officials were forced to halt an execution at the last minute when the lethal injection drug turned cloudy, a circumstance state officials struggled to explain, according to court documents.

Inmate Officials Smith Tennessee Injection Execution Lethal Injection Dunham Harwell  lethal  gov  inmate  canceled  later  officials  execution  told  details  death  states  prison  injection  tennessee

History of this topic

South Carolina man set to face a firing squad seeks postponement, questioning execution procedures
3 weeks, 6 days ago

South Carolina man set to face a firing squad seeks postponement, questioning execution procedures

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina man who is scheduled to die next week by firing squad is again asking that his execution be postponed and prison officials release more information about the state’s lethal injection drug and procedures. Sigmon’s attorney said autopsy results from Marion Bowman’s Jan. 31 execution released earlier this week showed he needed twice the dose …

Condemned inmate worried South Carolina needed 2 lethal injections doses at last execution
2 months ago

Condemned inmate worried South Carolina needed 2 lethal injections doses at last execution

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s latest execution should be halted so that lawyers for the condemned inmate can get more information about the drug used for lethal injection after the last prisoner put to death needed two massive doses of the sedative 11 minutes apart, the attorneys said in court papers. An anesthesiologist who reviewed the autopsy records of Richard …

South Carolina man chooses to die by lethal injection instead of electric chair or firing squad
2 months, 1 week ago

South Carolina man chooses to die by lethal injection instead of electric chair or firing squad

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina inmate who has spent more than half his life on death row has chosen to die by lethal injection instead of by electric chair or firing squad later this month. We will continue to support him and hope that South Carolina does not execute another innocent man,” Bowman’s attorney Lindsey Vann said in a …

Why Tennessee is keeping its new execution manual a secret
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Why Tennessee is keeping its new execution manual a secret

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 Just days after Tennessee …

Tennessee has a new execution method, 2.5 years after last scheduled execution abruptly halted
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Tennessee has a new execution method, 2.5 years after last scheduled execution abruptly halted

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 2 years after Tennessee abruptly halted the execution of inmate Oscar Smith — admitting that correction officials were not following their own execution protocols — the state has announced a new method that could allow it to resume executions halted since May 2022. The Tennessee Department of Correction announced in a brief statement Friday it …

Oklahoma executes a man for a 1992 killing despite board recommending his life be spared
6 months ago

Oklahoma executes a man for a 1992 killing despite board recommending his life be spared

Associated Press  

McALESTER, Okla. — Oklahoma executed a man Thursday for his role in the 1992 fatal shooting of a convenience store owner after the governor again rejected a recommendation from the state’s parole board to spare a death row inmate’s life. Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, received a lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and was declared dead at 10:17 a.m. “A …

Inmate awaiting execution says South Carolina didn’t share enough about lethal injection drug
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Inmate awaiting execution says South Carolina didn’t share enough about lethal injection drug

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lawyers for the South Carolina inmate scheduled to be put to death later this month said Tuesday state prison officials didn’t provide enough information about the drug to decide whether he wants to die by lethal injection. How much information should be released to a condemned inmate is one of several pending legal issues before the South …

Tennessee governor OKs bill allowing death penalty for child rape convictions
10 months, 1 week ago

Tennessee governor OKs bill allowing death penalty for child rape convictions

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has approved legislation allowing the death penalty in child rape convictions, a change the Republican-controlled Statehouse championed amid concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court has banned capital punishment in such cases. While many supporters of Tennessee’s version have conceded that even though the Volunteer State previously allowed convicted child rapists to face the …

Supreme Court takes up appeal of Oklahoma death row inmate after state attorney general admitted mistakes
1 year, 2 months ago

Supreme Court takes up appeal of Oklahoma death row inmate after state attorney general admitted mistakes

CNN  

CNN — The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to take up the extraordinary appeal of an Oklahoma death row inmate named Richard Glossip, a man who even the state attorney general said should not be executed. “We are grateful that the court is providing Richard Glossip the opportunity to argue that Oklahoma should not be permitted to kill him,” Glossip’s …

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 …

South Carolina has lethal injection drug but justices want more info before restarting executions
1 year, 4 months ago

South Carolina has lethal injection drug but justices want more info before restarting executions

Associated Press  

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s highest court apparently is not ready to allow the state to restart executions after more than 12 years until they hear more arguments about newly obtained lethal injection drugs as well as a recently added firing squad and the old electric chair. South Carolina has not carried out an execution since 2011 after the state’s …

Death row inmate challenges new Tennessee post-conviction law
1 year, 10 months ago

Death row inmate challenges new Tennessee post-conviction law

Associated Press  

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee death row inmate is challenging the newly expanded authority of the appointed state attorney general to argue certain capital cases, a power that lawmakers shifted away from locally elected prosecutors under a new law after some expressed reluctance to pursue the death penalty. Richard Dieter, the Death Penalty Information Center’s executive director, said tension exists …

Death row inmate challenges new Tennessee post-conviction law
1 year, 10 months ago

Death row inmate challenges new Tennessee post-conviction law

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 Tennessee death row inmate …

Supreme Court blocks Richard Glossip’s execution in Oklahoma
1 year, 10 months ago

Supreme Court blocks Richard Glossip’s execution in Oklahoma

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday blocked Oklahoma from executing death row inmate Richard Glossip for his role in a 1997 murder-for-hire after the state’s attorney general agreed Glossip’s life should be spared. “When police came to talk to Glossip about Van Treese’s whereabouts, he directed him away from the room he knew Van Treese was in,” Prater said …

Supreme Court temporarily halts impending Richard Glossip execution amid potential appeal
1 year, 10 months ago

Supreme Court temporarily halts impending Richard Glossip execution amid potential appeal

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The US Supreme Court on Friday agreed to temporarily stay …

Editorial: Bureaucracy of death may snag condemned Oklahoma man, guilty or not
1 year, 10 months ago

Editorial: Bureaucracy of death may snag condemned Oklahoma man, guilty or not

LA Times  

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 2 to 2 to grant clemency to Richard Glossip on April 26. Several prominent Oklahoma Republican lawmakers have likewise argued for Glossip, horrified that their state is close to putting to death a man who may be innocent. Opinion Editorial: Death penalty’s retreat is excruciatingly slow Florida jurors and Oregon’s governor were unlikely …

Court demands more info in South Carolina death penalty case
2 years, 1 month ago

Court demands more info in South Carolina death penalty case

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 South Carolina Supreme Court …

Tennessee says pair gave incorrect execution drug testimony
2 years, 2 months ago

Tennessee says pair gave incorrect execution drug testimony

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 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. Please try again later {{ …

Top Tennessee prison officials fired after report finds ‘shocking’ issues with death penalty drugs
2 years, 2 months ago

Top Tennessee prison officials fired after report finds ‘shocking’ issues with death penalty drugs

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 Two top Tennessee corrections …

2 Tenn. officials fired after lethal injection errors noted
2 years, 2 months ago

2 Tenn. officials fired after lethal injection errors noted

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Correction has fired its longtime top attorney and another employee following a scathing independent report on failures within the state’s lethal injection system. The firings came a day before the Republican governor publicly released the report, whose findings cited widespread failures to conduct required testing on the injection drugs under Tennessee’s own rules, …

Lee: Tennessee high court likely won’t set executions soon
2 years, 2 months ago

Lee: Tennessee high court likely won’t set executions soon

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee said the Tennessee Supreme Court will likely wait for the state to finalize changes to its lethal injection process before it schedules future executions, after a blistering report found multiple flaws in how inmates are put to death. Yet, it wasn’t until the release of the review’s report last week that the public learned …

Report shines new light on execution secrecy in Tennessee
2 years, 2 months ago

Report shines new light on execution secrecy in Tennessee

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When multiple pharmaceutical companies objected to Tennessee using their drugs to kill death row inmates several years back, the scramble to find lethal injection chemicals needed to carry out state-sanctioned executions grew frantic. The result: The state put a single employee with no medical background in charge of procuring the drugs, and the state’s own flawed lethal …

Report: Tenn has broken its lethal injection rules since ’18
2 years, 2 months ago

Report: Tenn has broken its lethal injection rules since ’18

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee has not complied with its own lethal injection process ever since it was revised in 2018, resulting in several executions being conducted without proper testing of the drugs used, according to an independent review released Wednesday. Stanton’s report rebuked top Correction leaders for viewing the “the lethal injection process through a tunnel-vision, result-oriented lens” and claimed …

Gov. Lee: Execution report complete, will release later
2 years, 3 months ago

Gov. Lee: Execution report complete, will release later

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday that the independent review into the state’s lethal injection procedure has been completed, but he refused to immediately release the findings. The governor’s office then refused to release records that could have illuminated his decision, citing attorney-client privilege and the disputed “deliberative process privilege.” Lee appointed former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton …

Oklahoma court denies new hearing for death row inmate
2 years, 4 months ago

Oklahoma court denies new hearing for death row inmate

Associated Press  

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma appeals court on Thursday denied death row inmate Richard Glossip’s request for a new evidentiary hearing that his attorneys suggest would prove his innocence in the 1997 beating death of Glossip’s boss at an Oklahoma City motel. The court also cast doubt on Glossip’s theory that his co-defendant, Justin Sneed, acted alone or with his …

Oklahoma court denies new hearing for death row inmate
2 years, 4 months ago

Oklahoma court denies new hearing for death row inmate

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 An Oklahoma appeals court on …

Tennessee DA seeks death sentence commutation, AG against
2 years, 4 months ago

Tennessee DA seeks death sentence commutation, AG against

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s conservative attorney general and Nashville’s liberal district attorney are at odds over whether a death row inmate is intellectually disabled and consequently should not be executed. A defendant cannot file a new disability claim “if the issue of whether the defendant has an intellectual disability has been previously adjudicated on the merits.” Nonetheless, Black filed a …

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 …

Alabama asks US Supreme Court to let execution proceed
2 years, 6 months ago

Alabama asks US Supreme Court to let execution proceed

Associated Press  

ATMORE, Ala. — A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected Alabama’s attempt to proceed with the execution of an inmate who claims the state lost his paperwork selecting an alternative to lethal injection. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the state’s request to lift a recent injunction preventing the state from carrying out Thursday night’s scheduled execution of Alan Miller. In …

Richard Glossip: The death row inmate whose conviction looks so shaky even Oklahoma Republicans are fighting to save him
2 years, 6 months ago

Richard Glossip: The death row inmate whose conviction looks so shaky even Oklahoma Republicans are fighting to save him

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. Glossip was convicted again, though the judge acknowledged …

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 …

Tennessee execution pause through 2022 could last longer
2 years, 9 months ago

Tennessee execution pause through 2022 could last longer

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After Tennessee Gov. Many of the problems surfaced as part of challenges of Tennessee’s execution process by two death row inmates in federal court. Those cases are on hold until the investigation ordered by Lee concludes — but in the meantime, the state attorney general’s office acknowledged in a May 6 court filing that there may be …

Oklahoma official seeks execution dates for 25 inmates
2 years, 9 months ago

Oklahoma official seeks execution dates for 25 inmates

Associated Press  

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s attorney general has asked the state’s highest appeals court to set execution dates for 25 death row inmates following a federal judge’s rejection of their challenge to the state’s lethal injection method. In 25 similar filings with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday, Attorney General John O’Connor wrote that the federal court’s stays of …

A federal judge rules Oklahoma's lethal injection method is constitutional
2 years, 9 months ago

A federal judge rules Oklahoma's lethal injection method is constitutional

NPR  

A federal judge rules Oklahoma's lethal injection method is constitutional Enlarge this image toggle caption Sue Ogrocki/AP Sue Ogrocki/AP A federal judge in Oklahoma on Monday ruled the state's three-drug lethal injection method is constitutional, paving the way for the state to request execution dates for more than two dozen death row inmates who were plaintiffs in the case. Judge …

Records: 2 people in execution knew drugs hadn’t been tested
2 years, 10 months ago

Records: 2 people in execution knew drugs hadn’t been tested

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — At least two people connected to a Tennessee execution that was abruptly put on hold last month knew the night before that the lethal injection drugs the state planned to use hadn’t undergone some required testing, newly released records show. Bill Lee had called off the execution of 72-year-old Oscar Smith barely an hour before the planned …

Tenn. expects changes to lethal injection protocol, staffing
2 years, 10 months ago

Tenn. expects changes to lethal injection protocol, staffing

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee officials say they anticipate that an independent investigation of the state’s lethal injection methods will result in changes to how those executions are carried out, including how the procedures are staffed. State corrections officials made the statement last week in a federal court filing and a judge on Tuesday agreed to pause litigation challenging the lethal …

Tennessee governor won’t release records on execution error
2 years, 10 months ago

Tennessee governor won’t release records on execution error

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has refused to release records that could illuminate his decision to abruptly halt the execution of Oscar Smith last month, citing attorney-client privilege and the disputed “deliberative process privilege.” In response to a records request by The Associated Press, the Republican governor’s office released emails containing Lee’s April 21 public statement granting Smith …

Tennessee pauses executions, will review lethal injections
2 years, 10 months ago

Tennessee pauses executions, will review lethal injections

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Lee didn’t initially disclose the reason for stopping Smith’s execution other than to say there was an “oversight” in the preparation of the lethal injection drugs. In a Monday statement, Federal Public Defender Kelley Henry said the Republican governor’s decision shows “great leadership.” “The use of compounded drugs in the context of lethal injection is fraught …

Tennessee halts executions ahead of a review of lethal injections
2 years, 10 months ago

Tennessee halts executions ahead of a review of lethal injections

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 Tennessee has paused its …

Tennessee Pauses Executions, Will Review Lethal Injections
2 years, 10 months ago

Tennessee Pauses Executions, Will Review Lethal Injections

Huff Post  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee paused executions in Tennessee for the rest of the year on Monday to enable a review of its lethal injection procedures after a testing oversight forced the state to call off the execution of Oscar Smith an hour before he was to die. He’ll also review the clarity of the lethal injection process manual …

Tennessee pauses executions till year’s end to review lethal injection procedures
2 years, 10 months ago

Tennessee pauses executions till year’s end to review lethal injection procedures

LA Times  

Tennessee is pausing executions to enable an independent review of its lethal injection procedures after a testing oversight forced the state to call off the execution of Oscar Smith an hour before he was to die this month. “However, the death penalty is an extremely serious matter, and I expect the Tennessee Department of Correction to leave no question that …

Attorneys want moratorium, probe after execution halted
2 years, 10 months ago

Attorneys want moratorium, probe after execution halted

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After an undisclosed “oversight” forced Tennessee to call off the execution of Oscar Smith an hour before he was to die last week, Smith’s attorneys on Thursday asked for a moratorium on executions and a review of the state’s execution protocols. Bill Lee issued a brief statement on April 21 at 5:42 p.m. saying that “due to …

Tenn governor calls off execution, citing oversight in plan
2 years, 11 months ago

Tenn governor calls off execution, citing oversight in plan

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s governor on Thursday called off what would have been the state’s first execution since the pandemic began, granting a temporary reprieve to the oldest inmate on death row for what was called an “oversight” in preparations for the lethal injection. “Due to an oversight in preparation for lethal injection, the scheduled execution of Oscar Smith will …

Tennessee governor calls off Oscar Smith execution, citing ‘oversight in preparation for lethal injection’
2 years, 11 months ago

Tennessee governor calls off Oscar Smith execution, citing ‘oversight in preparation for lethal injection’

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. “Due to an oversight in preparation for lethal …

Tennessee plans 1st COVID-19-era execution, more scheduled
2 years, 11 months ago

Tennessee plans 1st COVID-19-era execution, more scheduled

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee is set to execute its first inmate Thursday since the start of the pandemic, planning a lethal injection procedure that has become less common in the state than the electric chair in recent years. The execution using the state’s preferred method puts Tennessee on a divergent path from South Carolina, which has been preparing for a …

Tennessee governor declines to intervene as execution looms
2 years, 11 months ago

Tennessee governor declines to intervene as execution looms

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s governor said Tuesday that he will not intervene in the scheduled execution later this week of an inmate convicted of fatally stabbing and shooting his estranged wife and her sons decades ago. “After thorough consideration of Oscar Smith’s request for clemency and an extensive review of the case, the State of Tennessee’s sentence will stand, and …

Oscar Smith: A Tennessee death row inmate is set to be executed after governor denies him clemency
2 years, 11 months ago

Oscar Smith: A Tennessee death row inmate is set to be executed after governor denies him clemency

CNN  

CNN — A man convicted of killing his estranged wife and her sons in 1989 is set to be executed Thursday after Tennessee Gov. The governor declined to intervene in Oscar Smith’s case Tuesday, setting the 72-year-old inmate up to be the first person executed in the state since the Covid-19 pandemic began. New cutting-edge DNA evidence excluding Mr. Smith …

State high court won’t hear inmate appeal as execution looms
2 years, 11 months ago

State high court won’t hear inmate appeal as execution looms

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the appeal of an inmate facing execution this week who sought to have his case reopened after an unknown person’s DNA was found on one of the murder weapons. The state Court of Criminal Appeals ruled last week that Smith didn’t provide evidence that he is innocent of …

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