US judge halts execution by nitrogen gas, ruling it unconstitutional

Judge Emily Marks had previously allowed the execution to proceed, arguing that no execution is entirely without pain.A federal judge in the United States has permanently blocked Alabama from executing an inmate with nitrogen gas, after declaring that the method violates the ban on cruel and unusual punishment.On Tuesday, US District Judge Emily C Marks permanently enjoined the state from executing Jeffery Lee by nitrogen gas. Lee was scheduled to be executed Thursday at an Alabama prison.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Dangerous escalation’: World reacts to Israel passing death penalty lawlist 2 of 3Iran executes two convicted members of banned opposition grouplist 3 of 3Trump administration to prioritise seeking death penalty, use firing squadsend of listHer decision came a day after an appeals court reversed her earlier ruling that the method is constitutional.The case centres on how to interpret the US Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which bars the government from inflicting “Cruel and Unusual Punishments”.A spokesman for Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said the state is reviewing the decision and considering next steps, including an appeal. The case will likely end up before the US Supreme Court, which has previously let nitrogen executions proceed.A spokeswoman for Lee’s legal team said they did not have an immediate comment.In her 26-page ruling, Marks said litigation is a constant in death penalty cases.“Were Alabama to adopt firing squad as a method of execution, that method would likely be challenged as well. Indeed, there is likely no method — no matter how humane — that would be immune to constitutional challenge,” Marks wrote.“But the Constitution does not guarantee a painless death, and human life cannot be purposefully extinguished without some risk of pain. The Court, the condemned, and the State must all confront that sobering reality.”