Opinion ID: 1134803
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Issue 14: Is Execution by Lethal Injection Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

Text: Pirtle also alleges on appeal that lethal injection as a manner of execution is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment. Other jurisdictions have held that capital punishment by lethal injection is not cruel and unusual punishment. Poland v. Stewart, 151 F.3d 1014 (9th Cir.1998); Poland v. Stewart, 117 F.3d 1094 (9th Cir.1997); People v. Holt, 15 Cal.4th 619, 937 P.2d 213, 63 Cal.Rptr.2d 782 (1997); Woolls v. McCotter, 798 F.2d 695 (5th Cir.1986); Ex Parte Granviel, 561 S.W.2d 503 (Tex.Crim.App.1978). Pirtle carries the evidentiary burden to prove that the Washington State lethal injection protocol is cruel and unusual punishment. To meet this burden, Pirtle presents evidence entirely based on lethal injection methods in other states. Pirtle fails to analogize, with any precision, between that evidence and Washington State's lethal injection protocol. As the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recognized for a similar claim, mere observations and speculations as evidence are insufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact. Poland, 151 F.3d at 1023. Pirtle's claim on these grounds in therefore denied.