After several days of hearings, the Tennessee Supreme Court’s investigator issued a report saying death row inmate Christa Pike failed to convince him the state’s execution process would violate her constitutional rights.
Catherine Sweeney
Catherine Sweeney is WPLN’s health reporter. Before joining the station, she covered health for Oklahoma’s NPR member stations. That was her first job in public radio. Until then, she wrote about state and local government for newspapers in Oklahoma and Colorado. In her free time, she likes to cycle through hobbies, which include crochet, embroidery, baking, cooking and weightlifting.
Tennessee executes Anthony Darrell Hines
Tennessee executed Anthony “Darrell” Hines on Thursday morning. He was convicted of murder for the 1985 killing of Catherine Jean Jenkins.
A court is deciding whether Tennessee’s execution methods violate Christa Pike’s rights. Hearings are underway.
Days before Tennessee’s next execution, a court is considering whether the state’s execution methods violate another death row inmate’s rights.
Amid mounting calls for a death penalty moratorium, Tennessee’s governor says executions will continue
Tennessee is scheduled to execute Anthony “Darrell” Hines on Aug. 13. More people have been calling for a death penalty moratorium but Gov. Bill Lee says that’s not going to happen.
Doctors shouldn’t serve as executioners, Tennessee physicians say
Yet another group is calling for a death penalty moratorium after the failed execution of Tony Carruthers in May. This time, it’s doctors and nurses.
Tennessee Supreme Court appoints special master to investigate gender concerns in lethal injection process
Attorneys for a death row inmate convinced the Tennessee Supreme Court to conduct an investigation into the state’s lethal injection program. But it’s not because of the recent failed execution.
After concerning audit, Nashville mulls more oversight of opioid settlement funds
Nashville has received more than $13 million dollars from opioid makers, sellers and marketers. This summer, the city released an unflattering internal audit of the how the settlement funds are being used.
After failed execution, Gov. Lee says no moratorium, no protocol changes for lethal injection
It’s unlikely Gov. Bill Lee will call a death penalty moratorium before Tennessee’s next execution. Calls for a temporary suspension, investigation and corrective action plan have been ramping up since May.
GOP lawmakers seek investigation into Tennessee’s failed execution
Tennessee Republican senators are calling on the state to launch a formal investigation into the botched execution attempt of Tony Carruthers in May. Several legal battles are also challenging Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol.
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