Alabama Supreme Court Approves Use of Nitrogen Gas for Inmate Execution

The Alabama Supreme Court, in a 6-2 decision, has granted the state attorney general's request for an execution warrant using nitrogen gas, a method that has not been previously used for a death sentence. The court's order did not specify the execution method, but the attorney general indicated the intention to use nitrogen. Alabama is now closer to becoming the first state to attempt an execution with nitrogen gas, although there is likely to be further litigation. Nitrogen hypoxia involves depriving the inmate of oxygen by forcing them to breathe only nitrogen. Critics argue that there are still too many unanswered questions and liken the method to human experimentation. The exact date of the execution will be determined later by Governor Kay Ivey.