Louisiana Inmate Challenges Execution by Nitrogen Gas in Court

Jessie Hoffman Jr. argues the untested method violates his constitutional rights and seeks an alternative execution approach.

Jessie Hoffman Jr., convicted of a 1996 murder, is set to be the first person executed using nitrogen gas in Louisiana on March 18, 2025.
Hoffman’s legal team contends the method infringes on his religious practices, exacerbates his PTSD and claustrophobia, and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
The state has not disclosed detailed execution protocols, raising transparency concerns from Hoffman's attorneys, who argue this violates his constitutional rights.
Louisiana adopted nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method last month after years of difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs.
If carried out, Louisiana will become the second state to use nitrogen gas for executions, following Alabama, where the method has faced criticism for being painful and inhumane.