No. 24-6778

Jessie Hoffman v. Gary Westcott, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, et al.

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-03-16
Status: Dismissed
Type: IFP
IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: cruel-and-unusual-punishment eighth-amendment execution-method nitrogen-gassing religious-freedom rluipa
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity Punishment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2025-04-17
Question Presented (AI Summary)

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

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

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.

Docket Entries

2025-04-21
The petition for a writ of certiorari is dismissed as moot.
2025-03-27
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2025.
2025-03-18
Application (24A893) referred to the Court.
2025-03-18
Application (24A893) for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is denied. Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kagan, and Justice Jackson would grant the application for stay of execution. Justice Gorsuch dissents. (Detached <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a893_b97c.pdf'>Opinion</a>)
2025-03-18
Reply of Jessie Hoffman submitted.
2025-03-18
2025-03-17
Brief of respondent Gary Westcott, et al. in opposition filed.
2025-03-17
Amicus brief of State of Alabama submitted.
2025-03-16
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed.
2025-03-16
Application (24A893) for a stay of execution of sentence of death, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Gary Westcott, et al.
Jorge Benjamin AguinagaLouisiana Department of Justice, Respondent
Jorge Benjamin AguinagaLouisiana Department of Justice, Respondent
Jessie Hoffman
Andrianna KastanekJenner & Block LLP, Petitioner
Andrianna KastanekJenner & Block LLP, Petitioner
State of Alabama
Edmund Gerard LaCour Jr.Office of the Attorney General, Amicus
Edmund Gerard LaCour Jr.Office of the Attorney General, Amicus