Jessie Hoffman v. Gary Westcott, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, et al.
SocialSecurity Punishment JusticiabilityDoctri
Whether a method of execution that superadds psychological suffering violates the Eighth Amendment's bar on cruel and unusual punishment; Whether execution by nitrogen gassing substantially burdens Mr. Hoffman's Buddhist faith in violation of RLUIPA
1. Whether a method of execution that superadds psychological suffering—including terror and mental anguish—compared to an available alternative method violates the Eighth Amendment’s bar on cruel and unusual punishment. 2. Whether execution by nitrogen gassing substantially burdens Mr. Hoffman’s Buddhist faith, in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq. (“RLUIPA”), by denying him the opportunity to meditatively breathe during his final moments.