Louisiana: Nitrogen gas implemented as execution method

A recent article has reported that on 18 March 2025, Jessie Hoffman Jr, was executed using nitrogen gas. This was the state’s first execution in 15 years.

Mr Hoffman’s lawyers sought to halt the execution where they provide in a series of court filings leading up to his death that the method is unconstitutional and violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

The Death Penalty Information Centre have reported that four states being, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma, currently authorise execution by nitrogen hypoxia.

The number of executions nationally in the United States have declined due to a shortage of lethal injection drugs and waning public support for capital punishment, which has led to a majority of states to either abolish or pause carrying out the death penalty.

However there is much work to be done, as Louisiana have expanded the state’s approved death penalty methods last year to include nitrogen hypoxia and electrocution, which these methods violate a person’s human right to life and being subject to cruel and inhumane punishment or torture.