The Supreme Court has blocked Alabama’s plans to execute convicted murderer Jeffery Lee using nitrogen gas. The decision came after appeals by state officials were denied. Lower court judges had previously found the method likely unconstitutional in Mr. Lee’s case. This ruling is typical for emergency orders and did not include detailed reasoning.

The decision was contested by three conservative justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito Jr., and Neil M. Gorsuch. Alabama officials faced a significant setback, as they were determined to proceed with the execution of Lee, aged 49. The ruling may lead to broader legal challenges concerning the constitutionality of nitrogen hypoxia.

If the execution had taken place, Lee would have been the eighth person executed by this method in Alabama and the ninth in the United States since the state adopted it in 2024. Stopping an execution at the last moment is uncommon for the Supreme Court. Typically, emergency requests to halt executions come directly from inmates. In this instance, a federal appeals court had already blocked Lee’s execution, prompting Alabama to seek intervention from the Supreme Court.

This situation is still evolving. Further updates may follow as the story develops.

Rick Rojas, The Times’ Atlanta bureau chief, covers developments in the South.

Abbie VanSickle, covering the United States Supreme Court for The Times, brings her background in law and investigative reporting to the story.