Opinion ID: 1840836
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Execution by Lethal Injection

Text: Barnhill argues lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. This Court has upheld the constitutionality of lethal injection in Florida after a full evidentiary hearing in Sims v. State, 754 So.2d 657 (Fla.2000). Subsequently, the Court rejected similar challenges to both the lethal injection statute and the execution protocol. Diaz v. State, 945 So.2d 1136, 1144-45 (Fla.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 127 S.Ct. 850, 166 L.Ed.2d 679 (2006); Rolling v. State, 944 So.2d 176, 179 (Fla.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 127 S.Ct. 466, 166 L.Ed.2d 332 (2006); Rutherford v. State, 926 So.2d 1100, 1113-14 (Fla.), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1160, 126 S.Ct. 1191, 163 L.Ed.2d 1145 (2006); Hill v. State, 921 So.2d 579, 582-83 (Fla.), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1219, 126 S.Ct. 1441, 164 L.Ed.2d 141 (2006). However, because there is ongoing litigation concerning Florida's lethal injection protocol as a result of the execution of Angel Diaz, we deny Barnhill relief on this claim without prejudice to pursue any available remedies he may have in the appropriate trial court.