Court: Neb. electric chair not legal

[flashl]

Source: AP

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Friday that electrocution is cruel and unusual punishment, outlawing the electric chair in the only state that still used it as its sole means of execution.

The state's death penalty remains on the books, but the court said the Legislature must approve another method to use it. The evidence shows that electrocution inflicts "intense pain and agonizing suffering," the court said.

"Condemned prisoners must not be tortured to death, regardless of their crimes," Judge William Connolly wrote in the 6-1 opinion.

"Contrary to the State's argument, there is abundant evidence that prisoners sometimes will retain enough brain functioning to consciously suffer the torture high voltage electric current inflicts on a human body," Connolly wrote.

AP

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080208/ap_on_re_us/nebraska_death_penalty;_ylt=AuHrlFUealyrV5m0arsmKRtH2ocA

[ulysses]

1. the only way to really eliminate suffering

is to somehow *instantly* shut down the nervous system - vaporize the head, something like that.

Of course, completely eliminating suffering would run counter to the basic instinct that leads some (most?) DP advocates to feel as they do...

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Madame la Guillotine

And I think every last juror who sentences someone to death should be required to press a button to do the job, in full and up-close view of the great spouting fountain of blood as the head is severed. If just one juror fails to push that button, the blade does not drop and the sentence is automatically commuted to life without parole.

Those who mandate the death of a human being should be required to witness first hand that mandate being carried out. If you can't stomach it, then don't vote for murder.

(For what it is worth, I think every last carnivore should be required to kill and butcher his own food at least once a year. Meat does not grow in clean, sanitary styrofoam trays, you know.)

[ulysses]

4. fair idea,

although I don't suspect that even the guillotine completely eliminates suffering.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. It comes closest to what you want, though

Until we can vaporize a person's brain without breaking skin, that is. And if we ever get that kind of technology, be afraid.

[ulysses]

6. breaking skin is the sticking point, isn't it?

What's needed, if we're to try to reconcile the DP with our own national standards, is a sort of pile driver that moves at great speed.

But it'd be messy. Brains all over the place means we have to confront being barbarians. Sterile needles mean we can fool ourselves - hell, it's just another medical procedure.

[Doctor Cynic]

7. hanging?

If done properly and according to mathematical charts, the neck is instantly broken and the prisoner is immediately knocked inconscious. It still has a 19th century association, though.

[ulysses]

8. yeah, but if done improperly

either the prisoner strangles or his head is ripped off. Not good DP PR.

[dysfunctional press]

10. hydraulic punch press to the noggin...

a BIG one, like they use to stamp lawn mower bodies out of sheets of steel.

i'm thinking of something along the lines of what happened to david hedison in the original "the fly", but with a MUCH faster cycle rate.

they'd never feel a thing.

but oh, the MESS...:puke:

[truthisfreedom]

3. I'm sure Cheney misread this as "electric cars" and whooped in ecstasy.

Just before he shot another friend in the face after a three-beer lunch.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. Ban the death penalty - problem solved.

.
.
.

A no-brainer in my wee Canuck mind

[Pavulon]

11. Send them to ADX

like facilities. remove tv, phones, direct sunlight, outside sound, and human contact. Let them die there. Same as the death penalty. It is not cruel, they get food and medical treatment, better than many americans, but pay for their crime.

Works for me.