Justices allow Louisiana to execute Buddhist over religious freedom claim

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CAPITAL CASE
Justices allow Louisiana to execute Buddhist over religious freedom claim

By Amy Howe
on Mar 18, 2025 at 8:20 pm

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A divided Supreme Court declined to block the execution of Jessie Hoffman, who was put to death on Tuesday night in Louisiana. Four justices would have put Hoffman’s execution on hold – one short of the five needed for a stay.

Hoffman was sentenced to death for the 1996 kidnapping, robbery, rape, and murder of Mary “Molly” Elliott. Last month Louisiana announced its plans to use nitrogen hypoxia, the use of nitrogen gas to cause asphyxiation, for executions. The state notified Hoffman 10 days later that it would use the procedure.

Hoffman went to federal court to challenge the planned method of execution, arguing that it violated both the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment and a federal law, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, that protects the religious liberties of prisoners. Hoffman, who is a practicing Buddhist, contended that the use of nitrogen gassing would interfere with his ability to follow a Buddhist tradition of meditative breathing at the time of death.

A federal district court in Louisiana stayed Hoffman’s execution, agreeing that he was likely to prevail on his claim that the use of nitrogen hypoxia would violate the Eighth Amendment. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit lifted the district court’s order, prompting Hoffman to come to the Supreme Court on Sunday seeking a stay of his execution and review of the 5th Circuit’s decision.

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Recommended Citation: Amy Howe, Justices allow Louisiana to execute Buddhist over religious freedom claim, SCOTUSblog (Mar. 18, 2025, 8:20 PM), https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/03/justices-allow-louisiana-to-execute-buddhist-over-religious-freedom-claim/