Execution

Arkansas Unveils Sweeping Legal Changes: From School Cellphone Bans to New Execution Methods

by

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A series of significant state laws will take effect in Arkansas on Tuesday, reshaping various aspects of education, public health, and social policy. Among the changes, a law banning cellphones in public schools, a new execution method, and the repeal of affirmative action programs are among the notable measures. The “Bell to Bell, No Cell Act,” mandates that school districts develop policies to prohibit cellphone use during school hours. The law, supported by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, requires districts to submit their policies to the Arkansas Department of Education by mid-August, … Read more

South Carolina Judge Declares Convicted Rapist-Murderer Fit for Execution, Sparking Controversy Over Intellectual Disability Claims

by

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Lexington County judge has determined that Gary Terry, who was convicted of rape and murder in 1997, does not have an intellectual disability, which could pave the way for his execution. The ruling marks a significant development in a legal case that has drawn attention due to its implications for capital punishment in South Carolina. According to local reports, Terry’s case could contribute to a troubling trend, potentially making him the seventh individual placed on death row in the state within the past ten months. He was found guilty of … Read more

Federal Court to Rule on Controversial Execution Protocol for Mississippi’s Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate

by

JACKSON, Miss. — A federal judge is expected to make a crucial ruling next week on whether Mississippi can proceed with the execution of Richard Gerald Jordan, who has spent decades on death row. The execution, which is set for June 25, has sparked legal debates over the state’s lethal injection protocol. Jordan’s attorneys filed a motion earlier this month seeking a temporary injunction to halt the execution, arguing that the current three-drug protocol raises significant ethical and constitutional concerns. At 79 years old, Jordan’s defense claims that the method of execution could lead to … Read more

Federal Judge Rejects Alabama Inmate’s Plea to Alter Nitrogen Gas Execution Protocol

by

Montgomery, Alabama—A federal judge on Friday declined a request by an Alabama death row inmate for a preliminary injunction to change the method of his upcoming execution, set to occur later this week using nitrogen gas. The decision was made amid contentious debates over the constitutionality of execution methods. The inmate, Demetrius Frazier, faces execution for the 1991 crimes of rape and murder of Pauline Brown. U.S. District Court Judge Emily C. Marks determined that Frazier did not successfully demonstrate the substantial legal standards required to justify a preliminary injunction against the state’s planned method. … Read more