Tennessee is preparing to execute Byron Black, marking what could be the first execution of a man with a working defibrillator. Governor Bill Lee denied a reprieve, and the Supreme Court has rejected appeals. Legal opinions assert that executing Black, who has severe health issues including dementia and heart conditions, is lawful despite his medical claims. This execution follows a five-year pause and contributes to an uptick in U.S. executions this year, reaching the highest total since 2015, with several scheduled across various states.
Byron Black's execution is set to occur with a working defibrillator in his chest, which may complicate the lethal injection process due to its potential to shock his heart.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Black's appeal, allowing the state to carry out the jury's sentence, which had been determined lawful by the courts.
Governors and courts have uniformly upheld the legality of Black's execution despite concerns raised by his attorneys about his medical condition and the defibrillator.
This year marks a significant rise in executions in the U.S., surpassing last year's total and reaching the highest number since 2015, indicating a shift in capital punishment trends.
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