After historic hiatus, state execution plans and practices back in the news

A lengthy break in state executions has been one of many notable impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on criminal justice systems.  Indeed, as this Death Penalty Information Center analysis explains, the United States is in the midst of “the longest period in 40 years without any state carrying out an execution.” (Of course, as DPIC also notes, at the federal level, the Trump administration during this period launched “the longest and most sustained execution spree in the modern history of the U.S. death penalty [as it] carried out 13 consecutive executions between July 14, 2020 and January 16, 2021, the most consecutive executions by any jurisdiction since capital punishment resumed in the U.S. in the 1970.”)

After an historic hiatus, there are now serious execution dates scheduled over the next few weeks in Texas (May 19 for Quintin Jones) and Idaho (June 2 for Gerald Ross Pizzuto Jr.).  And it seems that a few other states are also growing eager to get their death machinery back into operation.  Consequentially, as detailed by the links and headlines below, state capital punishment practices are again generating news:

From the AP, “Idaho death row inmate asks Supreme Court to stop execution“

From the AP, “Nebraska death sentences continue despite not having execution drugs“

From CBS News, “Quintin Jones is on death row for killing his great-aunt. The victim’s sister is pleading for clemency.“

From Fox News, “South Carolina to bring back firing squads for executions“

From The Marshall Project, “They Are Terminally Ill. States Want To Execute Them Anyway.”

From NBC News, “Rush of Arkansas executions that included Ledell Lee’s comes under renewed scrutiny“