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 for potential constitutional violations, raising concerns about the method's cruelty and prolonging the process.

• Federal appeals court reversed a lower court's decision, stating nitrogen gas execution may violate the US Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
• The court sent the case back for further consideration on whether a feasible alternative method, like a firing squad, exists.
• Nitrogen gas causes death by replacing breathable air, leading to potential suffering lasting one to three minutes, according to the court.