Louisiana’s New Execution Method: Ethical Questions in Hoffman’s Case

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Louisiana carried out its first execution in 15 years using nitrogen gas on Jessie Hoffman Jr., convicted of the 1996 rape and murder of Mary Elliot, despite Supreme Court challenges and religious freedom claims.

Key Takeaways

  • Jessie Hoffman Jr. became the first person executed in Louisiana since 2010 and the first in the state to die by nitrogen gas execution.
  • The Supreme Court rejected Hoffman’s appeal in a narrow 5-4 vote despite his claims that the execution method violated his religious freedom as a Buddhist.
  • Louisiana officials described the execution as “flawless” and “as good as expected,” though reports indicate Hoffman convulsed for approximately two minutes.
  • Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill supported resuming executions, with plans for at least four more death row executions this year.
  • The nitrogen hypoxia method is now permitted in five states as an alternative to lethal injection amid drug shortages and declining public support for capital punishment.

Louisiana Resumes Executions After 15-Year Hiatus

Louisiana ended its 15-year pause on capital punishment with the execution of Jessie Hoffman Jr., marking the state’s first use of nitrogen gas as an execution method. Hoffman, 53, was put to death for the 1996 abduction, rape, and murder of 28-year-old advertising executive Mary Elliot. Officials administered nitrogen gas through a respirator mask for 19 minutes until Hoffman was pronounced dead. The execution took place at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where witnesses included prison officials, family members of the victim, reporters, and representatives from the governor’s office.

Governor Jeff Landry, who took office in January, had promised to restart executions to demonstrate his administration’s tough stance on crime. Louisiana expanded its execution methods in 2024 to include nitrogen hypoxia and electrocution as alternatives to lethal injection, which has become increasingly difficult to perform due to pharmaceutical companies refusing to provide the necessary drugs. Hoffman’s execution was the fifth in the U.S. using nitrogen gas, following four in Alabama, and the seventh execution nationwide this year.

Legal Challenges and Religious Freedom Claims Rejected

Hoffman’s attorneys fought to block the execution through multiple legal avenues, including claims that nitrogen hypoxia violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. In a notable last-minute appeal, Hoffman’s legal team argued that the method would interfere with his Buddhist breathing and meditation practices during his final moments. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a narrow 5-4 vote just moments before the execution was carried out, effectively rejecting both constitutional and religious freedom claims.

The execution proceeded as planned, with Hoffman declining to give a final statement. Officials reported that he convulsed for approximately two minutes after the gas was administered but maintained that he was likely unconscious during this period. A small group of execution opponents held a vigil outside the prison, described as a “Meditation for Peace,” during the procedure.

State Officials Defend Nitrogen Method and Promise More Executions

Louisiana officials defended the nitrogen hypoxia method as both necessary and humane. Attorney General Liz Murrill stated that with Hoffman’s execution, “justice will finally be served” for his crimes committed nearly three decades ago. One official characterized the execution as “flawless,” while a prison spokesman noted it “went about as good as we could have expected it to be.” The method involves depriving the body of oxygen by replacing breathable air with pure nitrogen, which proponents claim causes painless unconsciousness followed by death.

The execution signals a new chapter in Louisiana’s approach to capital punishment. Attorney General Murrill has indicated that the state expects to execute at least four more death row inmates this year. Louisiana joins Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas in authorizing nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method. The shift toward alternative execution methods comes amid a broader national decline in executions due to legal challenges, drug shortages, and reduced public support for capital punishment. As states explore new options, South Carolina recently conducted its first death by firing squad, further highlighting the evolving landscape of capital punishment in America.

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Sources:

Louisiana Resumes Capital Punishment With First Nitrogen Execution

Louisiana puts man to death in state’s first nitrogen gas execution

Louisiana death row killer Jessie Hoffman becomes state’s first nitrogen gas execution

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