How does Clayton Lockett’s botched execution NOT violate the 8th Amendment?

I’d love to hear someone explain to me how the botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma doesn’t violate the 8th Amendment, which states “cruel and unusual punishments [shall not be] inflicted” (emphasis added).

The execution of Clayton Lockett was halted after a doctor acknowledged that because of problems in administering the drugs, there were not enough left to carry out the death sentence, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections said Thursday.

The revelation came as Oklahoma’s governor called for an investigation into the attempted execution that, according to some witnesses, left Lockett writhing in pain after a vein collapsed. A new and previously unused drug combination was reportedly used in the attempted execution.

A timeline released by the state Department of Corrections details what occurred after Lockett’s execution was abruptly halted and a shade was lowered, blocking the view of witnesses.

“The doctor checked the IV and reported the blood vein had collapsed, and the drugs had either absorbed into tissue, leaked out or both,” according to the timeline.

The director of the corrections department then asked whether Lockett had been given enough of the drug combination to kill him, and the doctor said “no.”

“Is another vein available? And if so, are there enough drugs remaining?” the doctor was asked, according to the timeline.

The doctor’s answer to both questions: “No.”

Lockett’s attempted execution was carried out Tuesday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, where he had been housed following his conviction and death sentence for shooting Stephanie Nieman and then watching as two others buried her alive in 1999.

Lockett died from an apparent heart attack, 43 minutes after the execution began.

I can’t even begin to understand how letting someone suffer for 43 minutes before ultimately perishing does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment, and I’m shocked that anyone would think the circumstances surrounding Clayton Lockett’s execution were acceptable.

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9 thoughts on “How does Clayton Lockett’s botched execution NOT violate the 8th Amendment?

  1. FUCK THAT PIECE OF SHIT!!!!!!! I HOPED HE DIED IN FUCKING AGONY AND I HOPE THAT HE SAW STEPHANIE AND SHE FUCKING LAUGHED AT HIS WORTHLESS BLACK ASS!!! HE WAS A FUCKING STAIN OF LIFE!!!! AND FUCK HIS FUCKING FAMILY IF THEY SUE THE STATE TO MAKE BLOOD MONEY FROM AN INNOCENT VICTIM!!!! HE DESERVED EVERY FUCKING THING HE GOT!!!! HE DESERVED MORE PAIN, A LOT OF FUCKING MORE PAIN!!!!!! I HOPE HE BURNS LIKE THE BLACK TAR PIECE OF SHIT THAT HE WAS!!! BURN IN HELL FOREVER AND FUCKING ALWAYS!!!!!!!

    1. Very inappropriate comment. So you want to be the very same barbarian that Lockett was? Aren’t we better than that?

      Our Constitution, fortunately, says otherwise. Despite your barbaric opinion.

  2. I really have a hard time getting worked up over something like this. Sorry, I cant feel sorry for someone who killed someone else and was convicted and sentenced to death and it took longer than expected.

    1. No one is asking you to feel sorry for these murderers; you attempt to change the argument.

      We are a nation of laws and a Constitution to ensure justice and humanity. The argument here is did Governor Mary Fallin follow the Constitution and Amendments? I believe not. She allowed Oklahoma prison staff to experiment with and use unauthorized drugs for which they had neither medical or pharmaceutical education and experience. And which resulted in “cruel and unusual suffering” or torture in violation of the 8th Amendment.

      The sentence of death as a result of a guilty verdict by citizens of Oklahoma was allowable and just. Torture was not. If we practice torture or enjoy and hail its use, we become as devoid of humanity and perverted or “sick” as those we despise.

  3. It is also a 5th Amendment violation since there was a court order delaying the execution.

  4. Duane12 awesome comeback my friend! Amazing argument I am thankful that we have some people left in our country that appreciates the Constitution for what it is! Idiots dont realize it but by defending our 5th Amendment right as we are doing, we are protecting everyone’s rights! You can’t just pick and choose! This is not about crime it’s about OUR RIGHTS! They are so slowly being taken away from us and you people cant see this? When you appreciate what they did to this man then you might as well throw the whole damn Constitution in a fire and watch them do it more often to EVERYONE even those who never committed one damn crime in their life’s!

  5. There was no violation of the constitution. To claim a violation you would have to prove that the State intended to subject Lockett to “cruel and unusual punishment” and that will not happen. This is no different that a hanging where the criminal was not dropped far enough to break his neck, and so he suffocates to death. Or a firing squad where all bullets miss the heart, and the criminal drowns in his blood. Or the classic electrocution on “The Green Mile” where there was poor conductivity. In this instance, Lockett veins ruptured and prevented the full quantity of killing drugs to be circulated by the heart to the appropriate organ.

  6. lethal injection is supposed to induce a heart attack. looks like it worked, with a slight delay.

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