Alabama has scheduled its second execution using nitrogen gas, following the first successful use of the method earlier this year. Governor Kay Ivey set a September 26 execution date for Alan Eugene Miller, who was convicted of killing three men in a workplace shooting in 1999. This decision comes after the Alabama Supreme Court approved the execution. In January, the state used nitrogen gas to execute Kenneth Smith, who experienced convulsions and seizures during the process. This new execution method is being used due to the scarcity of the drugs used in lethal injections.
Miller, who survived a failed lethal injection attempt in 2022, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the execution method as cruel and unusual punishment. His attorneys argue that the state has tried to avoid scrutiny and maintain secrecy regarding the botched execution of Smith earlier this year. They will likely request a federal judge to halt the execution. Attorney General Steve Marshall, on the other hand, defended Smith’s execution as “textbook” and stated that the state plans to carry out more death sentences using nitrogen gas. State attorneys argue that since Miller has been on death row since 2000, it is time to implement his sentence.
Alan Eugene Miller, who worked as a delivery truck driver, was found guilty of killing Terry Jarvis, Lee Holdbrooks, and Scott Yancy in a workplace shooting. The use of nitrogen gas, which deprives the inmate of oxygen needed to maintain bodily functions, has been controversial due to the lack of transparency in the process and the potential for botched executions. Despite these concerns, Alabama is moving forward with this method as an alternative to lethal injections, which have become increasingly difficult to carry out due to drug shortages. Miller’s case highlights the ongoing debate over the ethics and legality of capital punishment in the United States.
The use of nitrogen gas in executions has sparked a debate over its humaneness and the potential for cruel and unusual punishment. Critics argue that the method lacks transparency and raises concerns about the risk of botched executions, as demonstrated by Kenneth Smith’s convulsions during his lethal injection. Miller’s attorneys contend that the state has attempted to avoid public scrutiny and misrepresent the events of Smith’s execution. They are seeking to halt Miller’s execution on the grounds that it violates his constitutional rights. However, Attorney General Steve Marshall defended the use of nitrogen gas and stated that the state intends to continue using this method for future death sentences.
The decision to proceed with Miller’s execution using nitrogen gas has reignited discussions about the ethics of capital punishment and the methods used in carrying out death sentences. Alabama’s choice to implement this method reflects a broader trend among states seeking alternatives to lethal injections. The ongoing legal battle over the constitutionality of nitrogen gas executions highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the death penalty in the United States. As the execution date approaches, the debate over the humaneness and efficacy of this method continues, raising questions about the future of capital punishment in the country.