Opinion ID: 763300
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Fierro as Applied to LaGrand

Text: 33 LaGrand argues, and the State concedes, that the Arizona method of using lethal gas to execute inmates is substantially similar to that used in California. 34 The Fierro district court found, following an eight day bench trial: 35 Inmates who are put to death in the gas chamber at San Quentin do not become immediately unconscious upon the first breath of lethal gas. An inmate probably remains conscious anywhere from 15 seconds to one minute, and there is a substantial likelihood that consciousness, or a waxing and waning of consciousness, persists for several additional minutes. During this time, inmates suffer intense, visceral pain, primarily as a result of lack of oxygen to the cells. The experience of air hunger is akin to the experience of a major heart attack, or to being held under water. Other possible effects of the cyanide gas include tetany, an exquisitely painful contraction of the muscles, and painful build-up of lactic acid and adrenaline. Cyanide-induced cellular suffocation causes anxiety, panic, terror, and pain. 36 77 F.3d at 308 (quoting Fierro v. Gomez, 865 F.Supp. 1387, 1404 (N.D.Cal.1994)). 37 Even though the district court's decision was vacated pursuant to our order, see 147 F.3d 1158, no court has ever said the district court was wrong. In our own review of the district court decision, we said: 38 In short, we hold that the district court's extensive factual findings concerning the level of pain suffered by an inmate during execution by lethal gas are not clearly erroneous. The district court's findings of extreme pain, the length of time this extreme pain lasts, and the substantial risk that inmates will suffer this extreme pain for several minutes require the conclusion that execution by lethal gas is cruel and unusual. Accordingly, we conclude that execution by lethal gas under the California protocol is unconstitutionally cruel and unusual and violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. 39 77 F.3d at 308-09. 40 Counsel for the State has candidly admitted that if the question of Arizona's use of lethal gas went to trial, the record would be no different than it was in Fierro. There appears to be no reason to put the parties to the ritual of creating a new record in this case to parallel Fierro. We already know what conclusion is compelled by that record. 41 A further word concerning the death warrant is in order. The warrant parallels the statute in giving LaGrand a choice of the method of execution.
42 B. A defendant who is sentenced to death for an offense committed before November 23, 1992 shall choose either lethal injection or lethal gas at least twenty days before the execution date. If the defendant fails to choose either lethal injection or lethal gas, the penalty of death shall be inflicted by lethal injection. 43 The petitioner did choose execution by lethal gas twenty days prior to the execution date. The State acknowledged at oral argument that the petitioner could not change his mind. Thus, execution under the existing warrant would require execution by lethal gas. Since we have held the method chosen by LaGrand to be unconstitutional, the death warrant must be reissued in a form that does not require execution by lethal gas. 44 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the state respondents, their agents, servants and employees be, and hereby are, restrained and enjoined from executing Karl Hinze LaGrand pursuant to the existing death warrant, and are further temporarily restrained and enjoined from executing Karl Hinze LaGrand, or anyone similarly situated, by means of lethal gas. This order shall be effective immediately, and shall remain in effect until the district court has entered a permanent injunction. 45 The decision of the district court is AFFIRMED in part and REVERSED in part. The case is REMANDED to the district court with instructions to enter a permanent injunction consistent with this opinion. 46 The motion for stay of execution is GRANTED to the extent it is encompassed in the above order.