New Execution Method: Unpacking the Controversy in Jessie’s Case

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Louisiana carried out its first execution in 15 years, putting convicted murderer Jessie Hoffman Jr. to death using nitrogen gas while the Supreme Court narrowly rejected last-minute religious freedom appeals.

Quick Takes

  • Jessie Hoffman Jr. was executed for the 1996 abduction, rape, and murder of Mary Elliot, becoming Louisiana’s first execution since 2010.
  • The execution used nitrogen gas for the first time in the state, making Louisiana the second state after Alabama to employ this method.
  • The Supreme Court declined to intervene in a narrow 5-4 vote, rejecting Hoffman’s claim that the method violated his religious freedom as a Buddhist.
  • Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill supported resuming executions, with at least four more planned this year.
  • Officials described the execution as having gone as expected, though Hoffman reportedly convulsed for about two minutes after gas administration.

Louisiana Resumes Capital Punishment After Long Hiatus

After a 15-year pause in executions, Louisiana has returned to capital punishment, carrying out the execution of Jessie Hoffman Jr. at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. The state employed nitrogen hypoxia, a method that causes death by oxygen deprivation, marking its first use in Louisiana. Hoffman, who had been on death row since his 1996 conviction for the abduction, rape, and murder of 28-year-old advertising executive Mary Elliot, was pronounced dead after prison officials pumped nitrogen gas into a mask worn by Hoffman for approximately 19 minutes.

Louisiana officials faced challenges in carrying out executions due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs, leading to the state’s expansion of death penalty methods in 2024 to include nitrogen hypoxia and electrocution. This execution represents the fifth in the United States using nitrogen gas, following four in Alabama. Louisiana has joined Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and recently Arkansas in authorizing nitrogen hypoxia for capital punishment. Governor Jeff Landry, who advocated for resuming executions, has emphasized his commitment to carrying out death sentences as part of his tough stance on crime.

Supreme Court Rejects Religious Freedom Appeal

Hoffman’s attorneys fought until the final moments to prevent his execution, arguing that the nitrogen gas method violated both the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment and his religious freedom as a practicing Buddhist. Their legal challenge maintained that nitrogen hypoxia would interfere with Hoffman’s Buddhist breathing and meditation practices during his final moments. However, these appeals were unsuccessful at both the state and federal levels. The United States Supreme Court rejected Hoffman’s final appeal in a narrow 5-4 vote just moments before the scheduled execution.

The execution proceeded as planned, with Hoffman declining to give a final statement. According to witnesses, which included prison officials, a coroner, a physician, a chaplain, family members of the victim, reporters, and representatives from the governor and attorney general’s office, Hoffman convulsed for approximately two minutes after the gas was administered. Prison officials noted that he was likely unconscious during these convulsions. Attorney General Liz Murrill stated that “justice will finally be served” with Hoffman’s execution.

Growing Controversy Over Nitrogen Hypoxia

The nitrogen hypoxia method has generated significant controversy since its introduction as an execution technique. The process involves strapping the condemned inmate to a gurney and administering pure nitrogen gas through a respirator mask, which deprives the body of oxygen and causes death by suffocation. While state officials claim the method is painless and humane, critics argue it causes unnecessary suffering. Outside the prison during Hoffman’s execution, a small group of death penalty opponents held a “Meditation for Peace” vigil in protest.

Hoffman became the seventh death row execution in the United States this year, with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill indicating that the state plans to execute at least four more death row inmates before the end of the year. The use of alternative execution methods has been increasing nationally as states face challenges obtaining traditional lethal injection drugs, with South Carolina recently conducting an execution by firing squad. Despite these developments, the overall number of executions in the United States has declined in recent decades due to legal challenges, drug shortages, and decreasing public support for capital punishment.

Sources:

Louisiana Resumes Capital Punishment With First Nitrogen Execution

Louisiana puts man to death in state’s first nitrogen gas execution

Louisiana death row killer Jessie Hoffman becomes state’s first nitrogen gas execution

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