Supreme Court denies Alabama’s attempt to execute Jeffery Lee by nitrogen gas

Summary: The U.S. Supreme Court just stopped Alabama from executing Jeffery Lee using nitrogen gas. Lower courts ruled that this method, which forces a person to breathe pure nitrogen through a mask, might be "cruel and unusual punishment." While the state calls it painless, witnesses of past executions saw inmates shaking and gasping for air for up to 30 minutes.

Lee has been on death row for over 25 years for a 1998 double murder at a pawn shop. Interestingly, his jury originally voted for life in prison, but a judge overruled them to give him the death penalty—a practice that is now banned. Lee had actually asked to die by firing squad instead of the gas. The state can still try to execute him using a different method in the future.

For more details, see rssapp-nbcnews-com-pop-culture at nbcnews.com/news/us-news/supreme-court-denies-alabamas-attempt-execute-jeffery-lee-nitrogen-gas-rcna349665 (opens in new tab)