Alabama ready to help other states with ‘humane’ nitrogen executions after gas caused inmate to ‘shake and writhe’

Alabama is ready to help other states carry out “humane” nitrogen gas executions after using it for the first time Thursday to kill inmate Kenneth Smith, the state’s attorney general has said.

Jan 30, 2024 8:58 AM CST

Supreme Court doesn’t stop nation’s first execution using nitrogen gas

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block the execution of a death row inmate who claims that he would be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment if Alabama tries to execute him again—this time using nitrogen hypoxia.

Jan 25, 2024 10:26 AM CST

Only 7 states imposed new death sentences in 2023; 1 of them has passed new laws likely to expand number

Texas and Florida accounted for more than half of the executions this year, with Florida putting six inmates to death and Texas executing eight, according to a report by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Dec 5, 2023 8:15 AM CST

Alabama inmate may be first person to be executed this way

An Alabama inmate may be the first person in the United States to be executed with the use of nitrogen asphyxiation.

Nov 7, 2023 12:24 PM CST

Racist remarks about Obamas didn’t constitute workplace harassment, appeals court rules

A Black nurse who heard her white co-workers make racist statements about the Obamas and about their patients did not establish a hostile-work-environment claim, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Oct 10, 2023 10:13 AM CDT

Supreme Court rejects Alabama’s bid to avoid crafting second Black-opportunity voting district

Updated: The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay a decision finding that Alabama had defied court opinions when it failed to create a second Black-opportunity congressional district.

Sep 26, 2023 11:12 AM CDT

Kentucky litigator has hot TikTok takes on Bama Rush

As sorority rush week played out at the University of Alabama, the world watched. In August, the hashtag #bamarush reached 3.4 billion views on TikTok, Forbes reports. Brandis Bradley, an eastern Kentucky trial-lawyer-turned-social-media-influencer, watched too. She provided commentary on her TikTok channel.

Aug 24, 2023 12:13 PM CDT

Alabama can enforce ban on transition treatment for transgender minors, 11th Circuit says

A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that Alabama can enforce a ban on puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender youths.

Aug 22, 2023 8:57 AM CDT

Death row prisoner treated as ‘guinea pig,’ Sotomayor dissent says

Justice Sonia Sotomayor complained in a dissent early Friday that the U.S. Supreme Court should not allow Alabama to treat a death row inmate as a “guinea pig” to test its lethal injection process.

Jul 25, 2023 8:03 AM CDT

In ‘stunning development,’ Supreme Court rules Alabama election map violates Voting Rights Act

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a congressional voting map that dilutes Black voting strength in Alabama, stating that it would “decline to recast” its caselaw as urged by the state.

Jun 8, 2023 11:39 AM CDT

Slate for next term announced by ABA Legal Ed council

Judge Bridget Mary McCormack, a retired Michigan Supreme Court chief justice, is slated to serve as the next council chair of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar during the next term.

May 31, 2023 2:32 PM CDT

Florida now has nation’s lowest death-penalty threshold; second bill allows execution of child rapists

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a bill that allows juries to recommend capital punishment with an 8-4 vote.

Apr 20, 2023 12:02 PM CDT

Are owners of cars seized because of relatives’ arrests entitled to probable cause hearing? SCOTUS will decide

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether the “innocent owners” of cars seized because of the arrests of their relatives are entitled to a probable cause hearing before forfeiture proceedings begin.

Apr 17, 2023 11:16 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Justice Thomas responds to luxury trips story; suit filed over Idaho AG’s abortion referrals opinion

Justice Thomas: I was following colleagues’ advice on luxury trips U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said he was following guidance from colleagues and others in the judiciary when he didn’t report luxury trips financed by a good friend, Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. ProPublica’s report on the trips said Thomas…

Apr 7, 2023 2:13 PM CDT

ABA asks Supreme Court to review Alabama case involving fixed bail amounts

Apr 3, 2023 4:00 PM CDT