Flames and smoke erupt during the electrocution of Jesse Tafero.
State blames the problem on use of the wrong kind of sponge.
Flame erupts during the electrocution of Pedro Medina. But questions persist and 2 outside consultants are hired to investigate. They conclude the flame resulted from the failure of prison officials to properly saturate a sponge used in the chair's headpiece. The state Supreme Court rules 4-3 that death in the electric chair is neither cruel nor unusual. Legislature passes a law to confirm use of electric chair and designate lethal injection as the backup method should a court ever rule electrocution to be unconstitutional.