South Carolina Supreme Court Considers Execution Methods

The state's high court deliberates on the constitutionality of the electric chair and firing squad, amid a broader debate on execution protocols.

South Carolina's Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of the electric chair and firing squad as execution methods.
The state argues that all three execution methods, including lethal injection, comply with existing protocols, despite a 12-year hiatus in executions.
A recent law allows for the concealment of drug suppliers' identities, aiming to restart lethal injections, but faces criticism for lack of transparency.
Inmates argue the electric chair and firing squad constitute cruel and unusual punishment, challenging their use in the absence of lethal injection drugs.
The court's decision could impact the fate of 33 inmates on death row and set a precedent for execution methods nationwide.