Workman Autopsy Hearing

5 days after the state of Tennessee executed Philip Workman, his lawyers were in federal court this morning, arguing against an autopsy.

Philip Workman’s brother Terry testified during the hearing that an autopsy was against Workman’s religious beliefs.

The state medical examiner usually performs autopsies after an execution, and in this case the state wants to know the levels of the drugs in Workman’s system to ensure the execution was properly carried out. The information will likely become evidence in any future trial involving the lethal injection protocol.

Workman’s lawyers tried to challenge the protocol earlier this month, saying the procedure could cause an inmate pain, and therefore be constituted as cruel and unusual punishment. The second drug is a paralyzer, and it’s been argued that the drug masks pain.

Judge Todd Campbell extended the temporary restraining order, preventing the state from conducting the autopsy, until Campbell rules on the issue.