Death row

After botched execution attempt, death row inmate Christa Pike awakes 'angry and confused'

She is the first person known to have survived a "completed execution attempt" in the US, her lawyers say, calling it a violation of the Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments.

A picture taken on December 4, 2007 shows death row inmate Christa Pike entering a Knox County Criminal Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, US., obtained by Reuters on September 30, 2026.
A picture taken on December 4, 2007 shows death row inmate Christa Pike entering a Knox County Criminal Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, US., obtained by Reuters on September 30, 2026.

Tennessee prison chief resigns after second failed execution this year

Christa Gail Pike, 36, the only woman on Tennessee's Death Row, is pictured in this 2007 Tennessee Department of Correction booking photograph obtained by Reuters March 22, 2012.

Tennessee fails to execute Christa Pike after two lethal injection attempts

Christa Gail Pike, 36, the only woman on Tennessee's Death Row, is pictured in this 2007 Tennessee Department of Correction booking photograph obtained by Reuters March 22, 2012.

Christa Pike set to be first Tennessee woman executed in 200 years, lawyers ask Gov. Lee for mercy


Jewish inmate claims judge was antisemitic, wins stay of execution

In May, Halprin said in an appeal that the judge who sentenced him in 2003, Vickers Cunningham, referred to him using anti-Semitic slurs, including “f****n’ Jew” and “g*****n k**e.”

Prison, death row (illustrative)

Jewish death row inmate appeals to Supreme Court

“Texas made an antisemitic judge the sole arbiter of whether a Jewish defendant facing the death penalty would get a fair trial before a fair tribunal,” said his attorney, Tivon Schardl.

Prison, death row (illustrative)