Tennessee death penalty

Advocates Demand Halt to Tennessee Executions Following ‘Botched’ Attempt

By David M. GreenwaldMay 28, 2026

Attorneys and death penalty advocates have urged Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to suspend all state executions following a failed attempt to execute death row inmate Tony Caruthers. The incident, which involved over 90 minutes of unsuccessful intravenous access attempts, has prompted renewed scrutiny of Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol and calls for a comprehensive review.

Tennessee Gov. Reprieves Carruthers after Failed IV Lines Halt Execution

By Arisha BhattacharyaMay 23, 2026

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.