The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Alabama from carrying out the scheduled execution of death row inmate Jeffery Lee using nitrogen hypoxia.
In a statement released Thursday evening, the governor’s office said the Supreme Court denied the state’s request to proceed with Lee’s execution using nitrogen hypoxia, the method Lee selected in 2018.
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The ruling does not overturn Lee’s death sentence, meaning Alabama may seek to reschedule the execution at a later date.
Lee was convicted and sentenced to death for the December 1998 murder-robbery of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson in Dallas County.
Governor Ivey expressed disappointment with the court’s decision but said she remains committed to carrying out the sentence.
“Jeffery Lee was convicted and sentenced to death for the December 1998 murder-robbery of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson in Dallas County,” Ivey said in a statement. “While I am disappointed the Supreme Court did not allow the state to proceed with Lee’s chosen method of execution, I remain committed to ensuring that justice is ultimately served for his victims.”
Attorney General Steve Marshall was also displeased to hear this ruling.
“Tonight’s ruling is a miscarriage of justice, not for us, but for Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson, who Jeffery Lee brutally and senselessly murdered and left on the floor of their place of business,” Marshall wrote. “Tonight I am also keeping their families in mind, many of whom were prepared to witness the final act of justice be served.”
“I want their families to know that we will never stop seeking justice for Jimmy and Elaine,” Marshall continued. “The State is prepared to do whatever is necessary to see Mr. Lee’s lawful sentence carried out.”
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No additional information about when the state may seek a new execution date was immediately available.
