State Sen. April Weaver (R-Brierfield) recently told 1819 News that she was ready to push a legislative effort to approve firing squad as a method of execution in Alabama, after recent court opinions forbade the state from using nitrogen hypoxia.
Earlier this month, the nitrogen hypoxia execution of Jeffery Lee, 49, was called off after a late-night decision upholding an earlier ruling by a district court and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
SEE: SCOTUS halts execution of convicted Alabama double-murderer in last-minute decision
The court ruling, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, stated nitrogen hypoxia violated the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. She also stated that Lee's preferred method of execution by firing squad would be feasible to accommodate.
Alabama currently has three approved methods of execution: lethal injection, nitrogen hypoxia and electrocution, which has not been used in nearly 25 years.
The courts' recent ruling on nitrogen hypoxia makes it unlikely for the method ever to be used again, since the precedent set makes it likely that other condemned persons would use similar legal argumentation to prevent their execution.
In Lee's case, the courts essentially determined that the only way the state could execute him would be by adopting his preferred method of firing squad.
While most consider Lee's vying for a firing squad to be a legal maneuvering to avoid death, state leaders are not shying away from pursuing approving the method through the legislature and the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) adopting a protocol.
Weaver, who is no stranger to capital punishment legislation, most recently pushed through the Child Predator Death Penalty Act in the 2026 legislative session.
The new law makes crimes of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and first-degree sexual assault of victims under the age of 12 automatically become capital offenses punishable by death.
Weaver told 1819 News on Tuesday that she was monitoring the situation carefully and was ready, if necessary, to lead the effort in the legislature in 2027.
"As the Senate sponsor of the Child Predator Death Penalty Act, I am a strong supporter of capital punishment and consider it the ultimate deterrent, so this is an issue I am following closely," Weaver told 1819 News. "I will do everything possible to ensure that Alabama's death penalty sentences are carried out quickly and without delay and stand ready to lead that effort once the Legislature reconvenes next year."
Attorney General Steve Marshall, who objected to Lee's execution being called off, is term-limited and will leave office at the beginning of next year, meaning that if his office is to pursue a firing squad as an execution method, it will be up to his successor.
However, Marshall stated that he welcomed any additional options the legislature could provide, but stood by the constitutionality of nitrogen hypoxia.
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