Finally, a court held what we know to be true

I’ll never forget what the son of the slain victim said after witnessing the first execution by nitrogen gas: “it’s something I don’t ever want to see again.’” Turns out, watching someone getting tortured to death is a grotesque experience, even for those who support an execution.

Yesterday, the 11th Circuit recognized that death by nitrogen gas—which is clearly and unequivocally torturous—is a prohibited punishment under the Eighth Amendment’s “cruel and unusual punishments” clause. Finally, the law is catching up with what we know to be true as members of civilized society.