Baze v. Rees (2008)

The case I researched for my Law and Society Project was Baze v. Rees. It was a case that took place in Kentucky that addressed lethal injection. 

Ralph Baze shot and killed two police officers. He tried to argue it was self defense but ended up on death row. He decided to try and change the policy for lethal injection by claiming that it violated the eight amendment, banning the use of cruel and unusual punishment.

With the lethal injection cocktail there are three parts. An anesthetic, a paralytic and then a final injection that induces cardiac arrest. If the anesthetic doesn't work completely for whatever reason, the inmate will be in excruciating pain.

This case was so important because it was the first time the Supreme Court really considered changing the policy. In the end they decided that Kentucky's lethal injection cocktail was within the parameters for the eight amendment so it was not violated. The inmates failed to present evidence that showed flaws in the administration of the drug. It was 7-2 against Baze.