US appeals court raises concerns about Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas for executions (opens original article in a new tab)

A US appeals court ruled that Alabama's use of nitrogen gas for executions requires further study over potential constitutional violations, citing concerns about the method's painful effects and the need to assess alternative execution methods.

• Federal appeals court ordered more study on Alabama's nitrogen gas execution method for violating the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
• The court found the method poses a substantial risk of suffering lasting one to three minutes, which it deemed unconstitutional.
• The case involves Jeffery Lee, scheduled for execution by nitrogen gas, with the court asking if a firing squad could be a feasible alternative.