Federal judge halts Louisiana’s first nitrogen gas execution, state says it will appeal

Louisiana Nitrogen Death Penalty - (AP2009)

A federal judge halted Louisiana’s first death row execution using nitrogen gas, which was scheduled to take place next week.

U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, stopping the state from immediately moving forward with the execution — which would have been Louisiana's first execution in 15 years. Attorney General Liz Murrill said the state will immediately appeal the decision.