Tennessee will execute Oscar Franklin Smith this week while a lawsuit challenging the state’s new lethal injection protocol makes its way through the court system.
Timeline: Tennessee is planning its first lethal injection in years. How did the state get here?
On Thursday, Tennessee plans to carry out its first execution since 2019 by means of lethal injection. It’s the fourth scheduled execution date since 2020 for Oscar Smith, who was convicted of killing his estranged wife Judith Smith and her two sons Jason Burnett and Chad Burnett in 1989.
A look at the status of US executions in 2025
Fifteen men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and 12 other people are scheduled to be put to death in eight states during the remainder of 2025. Glen Rogers is set to die by lethal injection in Florida on Thursday, followed by scheduled executions in Texas and Indiana on May 20 and Tennessee on May 22.
Families of murder victims ask governor to hold off on Tennessee’s executions
Tennessee is scheduled to resume executions this month, and some victims’ rights advocates are arguing there are better ways to spend state money — and asking Gov. Bill Lee for a reprieve.
NashVillager Podcast: Lethal injection
Can execution be humane? Plus, the local news for April 16, 2025.
Death row lawyers ask governor for another execution moratorium while courts review protocol
Attorneys for nine death row inmates argue the state’s new lethal injection protocol contains even fewer protections than the plan found deficient in 2022.
Secrecy laws, low regulation and ‘gray markets’ mean Tennesseans know very little about the state’s lethal injection drugs
Tennessee is set to resume executions in May, but the state’s lethal injection drug supply is shrouded in mystery.
Tennessee’s new lethal injection protocol still carries concerns about painful deaths
Tennessee has a new lethal injection protocol and is moving to schedule executions. At the same time, there are lingering concerns about the new protocol.
A Trump executive order aims to make lethal injection drugs more accessible to states like Tennessee
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders. One aims to help states like Tennessee secure lethal injection drugs. But that will be an uphill battle.
Tennessee reverses course, releases redacted execution manual with vague details
Tennessee’s Department of Correction has released a redacted version of its newly completed execution manual after initially refusing to do so. The 44-page document blacks out sporadic titles and team names, and omits previously detailed steps on carrying out the death penalty in the Volunteer State.
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