Tennessee faith leaders and legislative figures have called upon Governor Bill Lee to halt the scheduled August 13 execution of Darryl Hines, citing concerns regarding the state’s lethal injection protocol following the May 21 failed execution attempt of Tony Caruthers and other reported issues.
Attorneys for death row inmate Darrel Hines have renewed their request for a reprieve from Governor Bill Lee, citing the Tennessee Department of Correction’s (TDOC) refusal to confirm whether the physician involved in a prior failed execution attempt will oversee Hines’ scheduled procedure. The legal team contends that the TDOC’s lack of clarity on this matter raises questions regarding the humane administration of the execution.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee granted death row inmate Tony Carruthers a one-year reprieve from execution following a failed attempt by prison officials to establish the intravenous access required under the state’s lethal injection protocol. The decision, which occurred after officials could not secure a backup vein and attempts to insert a central line proved unsuccessful, marks the fourth execution-related controversy in Tennessee within the past year.
Byron Black, a man convicted of murder 40 years ago, is scheduled to be executed on August 5, 2025, despite his documented intellectual disability and serious medical complications, which have been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Attorneys for Tennessee death row men Oscar Smith and Byron Black are calling on Governor Bill Lee to issue a temporary halt on executions until March 2026, when a trial on the constitutionality of the state’s new lethal injection protocol is set to begin, due to concerns about the new protocol’s lack of safeguards.