NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana is set to resume executions after a 15-year hiatus, and the state plans to use nitrogen gas as the method for carrying out death sentences, as stated by the attorney general on Tuesday.
Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed expectations for at least four inmates on death row to be executed within the year, with district attorneys actively scheduling executions as early as March. This shift toward reinstating capital punishment follows a decision last year by the state’s Republican-led Legislature to broaden the methods of execution, now including nitrogen gas alongside electrocution.
Governor Jeff Landry, who took office last year and is in favor of the death penalty, announced the updated protocols for executions. In a statement, he reflected on previous administrations’ failure to bring justice to victims of violent crimes, expressing determination to rectify that with a swift legal process.
Murrill clarified that the executions would target inmates who have exhausted all legal appeals. Among those likely to be executed first are four men convicted of first-degree murder, amidst approximately 60 inmates currently on death row in Louisiana.
Notably, DeSoto Parish District Attorney Charles Adams filed a motion to execute Christopher Sepulvado on March 17. Sepulvado was found guilty in 1993 of the brutal murder of his 6-year-old stepson, and his legal representative argues that executing an 81-year-old man in poor health does not make sense. They also reported that he feels deep remorse for his crime.
In similar developments, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Collin Sims submitted a request for the execution of Jessie Hoffman, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 1998. The request from Hoffman’s legal team has not yet been responded to. Meanwhile, a judge suspended a previously scheduled execution for Larry Roy, after objections from his attorneys concerning an ongoing post-conviction petition that was disregarded by the district attorney, Phillip Terrell.
Concerns were raised about the legality of moving forward with Roy’s execution while his appeals remain pending. Cecelia Kappel, a director at the Loyola University Center for Social Justice, criticized the district attorney’s push for execution as reckless and a denial of Roy’s legal rights.
Terrell has publicly stated that he views nitrogen gas as a humane method of execution and insists on bringing justice to the victims involved. Murrill also anticipated a resolution to Roy’s case soon, noting her expectation that he would still be executed.
Regarding nitrogen gas as a method of execution, it was first implemented last year in Alabama, which has since executed four individuals using this method. The execution protocol indicates that inmates will wear masks to replace oxygen with pure nitrogen, while also allowing them access to spiritual advisors and the ability to make a final statement before the execution.
Despite claims of this method being more humane, attorneys and death penalty opponents have raised alarms about its potential cruelty. Witnesses from Alabama reported that executed individuals exhibited involuntary movements on the gurney as they were put to death, igniting fears of suffering associated with the method.
According to a report by a local justice advocacy group, there are significant racial disparities and systemic issues within Louisiana’s death penalty process. They noted that a majority of death row inmates are Black, and about 80% of death sentences have been overturned on appeal since 1976 due to various issues.
Governor Landry has pushed back against criticisms of the death penalty and asserted that his focus lies on advocating for victims and delivering justice appropriately. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring the judicial system addresses claims thoroughly and fairly.
