The U.S. Supreme Court will not halt the execution of Kenneth Smith, who is scheduled to be the first death row inmate in the U.S. to be put to death by nitrogen hypoxia.
The Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community has lobbied for decades to abolish the death penalty around the world.
An attorney for an Alabama inmate set to be the nation’s first person ever put to death by nitrogen gas asked a federal appeals court Friday to block the upcoming execution using the “untested methods.”
Alabama will be allowed to put an inmate to death with nitrogen gas later this month, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
Gov. Kay Ivey has set an execution date for death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith.
A federal judge heard arguments about the humaneness and risks of execution by nitrogen gas as he weighs whether to let Alabama attempt the nation’s first use of the method.
Rev. Jeff Hood says restrictions would interfere with his ability to minister to Kenneth Smith before he is put to death by nitrogen gas.
Gov. Kay Ivey this month set a Jan. 25 execution date for Smith using nitrogen hypoxia.
A divided Alabama Supreme Court said the state can execute an inmate with nitrogen gas, a method that has not been used.
Lawyers for an Alabama inmate are asking judges to deny the state’s request to carry out his death sentence using nitrogen hypoxia.
