U.S. court suspends Louisiana's first nitrogen execution

U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state of Louisiana from carrying out executions using nitrogen. This was announced on March 11 by the news department of the CBS News broadcasting company.

"A federal judge has halted Louisiana's first nitrogen gas death penalty, which was scheduled to take place next week," the publication said.

The judge noted that it was in the public interest to suspend the execution until the case was considered on its merits. She also stressed that the injunction is especially important for protecting the constitutional rights of citizens.

Attorney General Liz Merrill, in turn, said that the decision would be appealed immediately.

On January 26, 2024, for the first time in the United States, the death penalty was carried out using pure nitrogen. The event took place in Atmore, Alabama.

It is specified that this method of execution involves tightly pressing the mask to the face, covering the mouth and nose of a person. Nitrogen gas is then supplied to the mask. The person continues to breathe normally, but gradually nitrogen displaces oxygen from the lungs — the person quickly loses consciousness, and then his heart stops.