Louisiana Halts Nitrogen Gas Execution After Judge Agrees With Lawyers Claiming Method Akin to Torture

A Louisiana inmate was scheduled to be the first person executed via nitrogen gas in that state, but the man’s fate is now in limbo after the controversial method was blocked by a federal judge.

Lawyers for Jessie Hoffman Jr. argued that using the new method of nitrogen hypoxia to put him death would violate his constitutional rights, according to CNN. The execution was due to occur next week at Louisiana State Penitentiary. 

Hoffman, 46 — who was convicted of the 1996 rape and murder of a New Orleans woman — is a Buddhist, NBC News reports. At a daylong hearing last week, his lawyers argued that using a mask to administer nitrogen gas would be cruel and unusual punishment and affect his ability to practice his religion — namely, that it would would “substantially” impact his ability to do Buddhist breath-work. 

The lawyers also claimed it would give Hoffman “superadded pain and suffering,” per NBC News. 

In addition, Hoffman’s lawyers argued that the mask used in the procedure would give Hoffman claustrophobia and worsen his PTSD — that it would be a form of mental torture, according to CNN.

Hoffman himself testified at the hearing and requested that the state use a different method to execute him, per NOLA.com.

Alabama is the only state to use nitrogen gas for executions, and it has executed four people with the method. During the procedure, a full-face mask is used to administer pure nitrogen gas, which prevents the inmate from receiving any oxygen. 

Though she reportedly rejected the argument that the nitrogen gas would impact Hoffman’s ability to practice his religion, US District Court Judge Shelly Dick did issue a preliminary injunction stopping Hoffman’s execution, which would have been Louisiana’s first in 15 years. 

“The Court finds that the balance of equities and public interest weigh in favor of enjoining Hoffman’s March 18, 2025 execution through nitrogen hypoxia until the matter can be resolved at a trial on the merits,” Dick wrote in her judgment, per NOLA.com. 

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“This order gives everyone a chance to have a full trial on the merits before Jessie is executed, and we look forward to the opportunity to continue presenting the court with evidence proving that this method risks inflicting torture on Jessie at the time of his death,” Cecelia Kappel, one of Hoffman’s lawyers, said after the ruling, NOLA.com reports.

The state immediately moved to appeal the injunction.

Hoffman is on death row for the abduction, rape, and murder of Mary “Molly” Elliott.

Elliott, 28, was picking up her car at a New Orleans parking garage when Hoffman, who was 18 at the time, abducted her at gunpoint before raping and killing her. He was sentenced to death in 1998.

Hoffman was scheduled to be executed on March 18.