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UNITED STATES v. HIGGS 

SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting 

of Justice’s (DOJ) announcement of a new execution proto-
col (the 2019 Protocol).  Whereas the previous protocol pre-
scribed a three-drug cocktail for use in executions, the 2019
Protocol calls for a single drug: pentobarbital.  Difficulty in
obtaining  the  required  drugs  had  contributed  to  the  Gov-
ernment’s nearly two-decade hiatus in carrying out execu-
tions.  The  Government  surely  knew  the  2019  Protocol 
would face further litigation.

Against this backdrop of deep legal uncertainty, the DOJ
did not tread carefully.  Simultaneous with the announce-
ment  of  the  2019  Protocol,  it  scheduled  five  executions; 
eight would follow in the months to come.  This rapid pace
required those facing execution to fast-track challenges to 
their sentences.  Rather than permit an orderly resolution 
of these suits, the Government consistently refused to post-
pone executions and sought emergency relief to proceed be-
fore  courts  had  meaningful  opportunities  to  determine  if 
the executions were legal.

Throughout this expedited spree of executions, this Court 
has consistently rejected inmates’ credible claims for relief.
The Court has even intervened to lift stays of execution that 
lower courts put in place, thereby ensuring those prisoners’ 
challenges  would  never  receive  a  meaningful  airing.  The 
Court  made  these  weighty  decisions  in  response  to  emer-
gency applications, with little opportunity for proper brief-
ing and consideration, often in just a few short days or even
hours.  Very few of these decisions offered any public expla-
nation for their rationale. 

This is not justice.  After waiting almost two decades to 
resume  federal  executions,  the  Government  should  have 
proceeded with some measure of restraint to ensure it did 
so lawfully.  When it did not, this Court should have.  It has 
not.  Because the Court continues this pattern today, I dis-
sent.