Tennessee Introduces New Lethal Injection Protocol Using Pentobarbital

The state aims to resume executions after a two-year pause, but legal challenges and federal reviews remain unresolved.

Tennessee has adopted a new execution protocol utilizing a single drug, pentobarbital, replacing its previous three-drug method.
Executions in the state have been on hold since May 2022 after an independent review revealed failures to follow established procedures.
The new protocol has drawn criticism for its lack of transparency and potential health implications, including concerns about pulmonary edema linked to pentobarbital use.
Death row inmates have 90 days to review the revised protocol and may amend their ongoing federal lawsuit challenging Tennessee's execution methods.
The U.S. Department of Justice is currently reviewing the use of pentobarbital in executions, further complicating the timeline for resuming capital punishment in the state.