Federal judge halts Louisiana’s first nitrogen gas execution, state says it will appeal

A federal judge in Louisiana has halted the state’s first death row execution using nitrogen gas, which was scheduled for next week. The inmate, Jessie Hoffman Jr., filed a lawsuit arguing that the method is cruel and unusual punishment and violates his religious beliefs. Louisiana officials plan to appeal the decision, as they aim to execute at least four individuals this year, following in the footsteps of Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas for executions.

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