TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 3, 2025

U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson recently dismissed a lawsuit from death row inmate Harold Wayne Nichols, who had sought to challenge Tennessee’s new lethal injection protocol. The Tennessean reports that Richardson ruled that the statute of limitations barred Nichols from bringing suit. Richardson also found that other execution methods would not be less painful, feasible or readily implemented than lethal injection by pentobarbital. Nichols’ attorney, Stephen Ferrell, said he was disappointed Richardson did not hold a hearing before dismissing the case. He has filed an appeal of the decision. Nichols is schedule to die on Dec. 11.