Supreme Court·Supreme Court
Supreme Court vacates Pike stay; Tennessee’s lethal injection fails; Gov. Lee pauses remaining 2026 executions
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted Tennessee’s application in Nelsen v. Pike (No. 26A428), vacating a Sixth Circuit stay of Christa Gail Pike’s execution; Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson dissented in an opinion posted on supremecourt.gov. Media witnesses and Pike’s lawyers said the state then administered two doses of pentobarbital at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution but Pike’s heart did not stop; she was taken to a hospital, the Nashville Banner and a Washington Post report carried by the Seattle Times said. Gov. Bill Lee said he was halting all scheduled Tennessee executions for the rest of 2026 and ordering a third-party review; separately, oral arguments in Suncor Energy v. Boulder remain set for Oct. 5, with Justice Alito not participating.
- U.S. Supreme CourtNelsen v. Pike, No. 26A428 (application to vacate stay)
- Nashville BannerAfter Two Lethal Injection Attempts, Christa Pike Transported to Hospital Following Failed Execution
- The Seattle Times / Washington PostTennessee once again botches execution; governor orders outside review