The Alabama Supreme Court halted the scheduled execution of Jeffery Lee after lower judges found the state’s nitrogen hypoxia protocol may constitute cruel and unusual punishment.
Defense attorneys presented expert testimony that the untested method risks conscious suffocation if masks leak or oxygen mixes unpredictably.
Prosecutors argued Alabama followed statutory procedures, but the high court kept the stay in place pending further review.
The case adds to a national debate over execution methods after pharmaceutical companies restricted traditional drug supplies.
Victim advocates expressed frustration over delays, while death-penalty opponents said the ruling reflects growing judicial skepticism.
Corrections officials must now revise protocols or seek alternative courts’ approval before setting a new date.
Alabama adopted nitrogen hypoxia after difficulty sourcing pentobarbital, joining Oklahoma and other states experimenting with gas chambers.
Medical ethicists testified that consciousness may persist if masks fail to deliver pure nitrogen, creating prolonged distress.
Governor Kay Ivey’s office said the state remains committed to carrying out lawful sentences once courts approve protocols.
Defense attorneys for other death-row prisoners in Alabama said the nitrogen ruling could delay additional executions while laboratories study whether the method meets evolving Eighth Amendment standards.
Alabama Attorney General staff said they would appeal the nitrogen protocol stay if trial courts demand further expert testimony on consciousness timelines during executions.
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