Capital Punishment
Tony Von Carruthers v. State of Tennessee
On May 21, 2026, Tennessee carried out a botched and torturous attempt to execute Tony Carruthers despite the state’s continued refusal to conduct forensic testing that could prove he was wrongfully convicted. After nearly 90 minutes, the execution was halted by a one-year reprieve from Governor Bill Lee. Mr. Carruthers remains at risk of another execution attempt, and the state continues to deny fingerprint and DNA testing.
Status: Ongoing
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64 Capital Punishment Cases
U.S. Supreme Court
May 2023
Capital Punishment
Reed v. Goertz
When a prisoner pursues state post-conviction DNA testing through the state-provided litigation process, when does the statute of limitations for a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 procedural due process claim begin to run?
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U.S. Supreme Court
May 2023
Capital Punishment
Reed v. Goertz
When a prisoner pursues state post-conviction DNA testing through the state-provided litigation process, when does the statute of limitations for a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 procedural due process claim begin to run?
U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2023
Capital Punishment
Criminal Law Reform
Cruz v. Arizona
This case concerns whether a state prisoner can be barred from challenging a state court’s decision denying his right to inform the jury about relevant sentencing information, where the state court applied a novel rule to bar his ability to present the issue on post-conviction review.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2023
Capital Punishment
Criminal Law Reform
Cruz v. Arizona
This case concerns whether a state prisoner can be barred from challenging a state court’s decision denying his right to inform the jury about relevant sentencing information, where the state court applied a novel rule to bar his ability to present the issue on post-conviction review.
Court Case
Jan 2023
Capital Punishment
California Racial Justice Act Cases
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Court Case
Jan 2023
Capital Punishment
California Racial Justice Act Cases
Court Case
Oct 2022
Capital Punishment
State of Florida v. Dennis Glover
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Court Case
Oct 2022
Capital Punishment
State of Florida v. Dennis Glover
U.S. Supreme Court
May 2022
Capital Punishment
Nance v. Ward
May a death-row prisoner use 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to challenge a state’s proposed method of execution as cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment, when his proposed alternative method of execution is not presently authorized under the extant state law?
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U.S. Supreme Court
May 2022
Capital Punishment
Nance v. Ward
May a death-row prisoner use 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to challenge a state’s proposed method of execution as cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment, when his proposed alternative method of execution is not presently authorized under the extant state law?