Glossip v. Chandler

Oklahoma-western

Glossip v. Chandler

Glossip v. Chandler is a landmark legal case that was heard by the United States Supreme Court in 2015. The case centered around the use of lethal injection as a method of execution in the United States.

Background

The case originated in the state of Oklahoma, where several death row inmates, including Richard Glossip, challenged the use of a specific drug, midazolam, in the lethal injection protocol. The inmates argued that midazolam did not effectively render them unconscious before the administration of the other lethal drugs, violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Supreme Court Decision

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state of Oklahoma, upholding the use of midazolam in lethal injection executions. The majority opinion held that the inmates failed to prove that the use of midazolam constituted cruel and unusual punishment.

Impact

Glossip v. Chandler had significant implications for the use of lethal injection in the United States. The decision set a precedent for the use of certain drugs in execution protocols and influenced future legal challenges to the death penalty.

See also

• Capital punishment in the United States
• Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution