Story perspectives

Tennessee Governor Orders Review After Pike Survives Attempt

By Drooid · Oct 10, 2026, 3:39 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Bill Lee Orders Review

Governor Bill Lee ordered a review of Tennessee’s lethal-injection protocol after Christa Pike survived a September 30, 2026 execution attempt.
The 2024 manual was cut to 44 pages, dropping many staff and drug details.
The new protocol removes IV-line practice during rehearsals, a step required in the 2018 version.
A 2022 report by former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton found drug-testing failures and that his tightening recommendations were largely ignored.

Summary

Texas Schedules Execution

Texas scheduled the lethal injection of Jamaal Howard, the nation’s 30th execution of 2026.
His attorneys filed emergency U.S. Supreme Court motions seeking a stay, citing Tennessee’s recent botched execution.
Howard was convicted of capital murder for killing Vickie Swartout in a 2000 robbery that yielded $114 and cigarettes.
Tadaryl Shipp, who killed in 1995 at 17, received life plus 25 years, was denied parole, next review 2031.

History

Historical Context

On April 29 2014, Oklahoma executed Clayton Lockett, whose lethal-injection failed after 43 minutes, prompting Governor Mary Fallin to order a full protocol review. The botched death spurred pharmaceutical firms and courts to push nationwide states to revise execution drugs, and by 2026 governors in Tennessee and Texas still cite Lockett in legal challenges.

1 of 3

Bill Lee Orders Review

Governor Bill Lee ordered a review of Tennessee’s lethal-injection protocol after Christa Pike survived a September 30, 2026 execution attempt.
The 2024 manual was cut to 44 pages, dropping many staff and drug details.
The new protocol removes IV-line practice during rehearsals, a step required in the 2018 version.
A 2022 report by former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton found drug-testing failures and that his tightening recommendations were largely ignored.

1 / 3