In Alabama, New Rules Make Botched Executions More Likely

Last week, the Alabama Supreme Court made a startling change to the state’s execution procedures. Instead of requiring that executions occur during a specific date, the governor will now have the sole authority to set a “time frame” during which executions can be carried out. The change is unprecedented in the United States.

While the change seems minor, it has major ramifications for death-row inmates. When attempts to execute an inmate drag on for too long, they were previously required to cease by midnight on the execution date if unsuccessful. However, with the new change, prison officials will be able to drag out an execution attempt over days.

The new rule, finalized last Thursday, seems to be related to a string of botched executions and execution attempts in the state. In November, the state called off one execution after attempts to insert a needle necessary to begin the lethal injection process took too long and the midnight deadline passed. Another inmate was successfully executed but only after significant delays allegedly caused by the same problems with inserting an I.V. catheter. In the wake of these cases, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey announced in November that she would be seeking a temporary moratorium on executions.

The rule was enacted as part of a larger set of changes ordered by the Alabama Supreme Court. In addition