Kenneth Eugene Smith v. Commissioner, Alabama Department of Corrections

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[DO NOT PUBLISH]

In the

United States Court of Appeals

For the Eleventh Circuit

____________________

No. 24-10095

____________________

KENNETH EUGENE SMITH,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

COMMISSIONER, ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CORREC-

TIONS,

WARDEN, HOLMAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY,

Defendants-Appellees.

____________________

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Middle District of Alabama

D.C. Docket No. 2:23-cv-00656-RAH

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2 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

____________________

Before WILSON, JILL PRYOR, and GRANT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Kenneth Eugene Smith is a death row inmate in the custody

of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) at William C.

Holman Correctional Facility (Holman). Smith is set to be exe-

cuted on Thursday, January 25, 2024, for the second time. In its

first execution attempt, Alabama failed to obtain intravenous (IV)

access necessary to complete the lethal injection. Now, Alabama

plans to use nitrogen hypoxia for the first time.

Smith sued ADOC Commissioner John Hamm and Holman

Warden Terry Raybon (collectively, Defendants), asserting viola-

tions of the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, the Reli-

gious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42

U.S.C. § 2000cc et seq., and the Alabama Constitution’s Religious

Freedom Amendment (ARFA), Ala. Const. art. I, § 3.01. Smith also

asked for a preliminary injunction to stop the scheduled execution.

The Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint and opposed the

request for an injunction. Although the district court found that

Smith alleged plausible claims under the First and Eighth Amend-

ments, RLUIPA, and ARFA, Smith failed to show a substantial like-

lihood of success on those claims to warrant a preliminary injunc-

tion.

After careful review and with the benefit of oral argument,

we affirm the district court.

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 3

I. Background

On June 24, 2022, Alabama moved to set Smith’s execution

date for the murder of Elizabeth Sennet.1 On September 30, 2022,

the Supreme Court of Alabama granted Alabama’s motion and set

Smith’s execution for Thursday, November 17, 2022.

On August 18, 2022, Smith sued Hamm and ADOC, assert-

ing two Section 1983 claims—violations of the Eighth and Four-

teenth Amendments. Hamm and ADOC moved to dismiss Smith’s

complaint, and the district court granted the dismissal with preju-

dice. Smith moved to amend the judgment to a dismissal without

prejudice, and alleged that ADOC’s “[u]se of [the lethal injection

p]rotocol” would subject him to an Eighth Amendment violation

because, “as ADOC implements it,” he would likely be subject to

cruel and unusual punishment because of particular physiological

predispositions. The district court denied Smith’s motion, explain-

ing that, to support an Eighth Amendment violation, Smith had to

show how ADOC’s deviations—or how implementation of its

1 In April 1996, a jury convicted Smith of capital murder based on the robbery

and murder of Elizabeth Sennett. Smith v. State, 908 So. 2d 273, 278 n.1, 279

(Ala. Crim. App. 2000). Ultimately, the jury recommended by a vote of 11 to

1 a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Id. at 278.

The trial judge overrode the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Smith to

death. Id. But in 2017, Alabama amended its law to no longer permit judicial

override in capital cases. See Ala. Code § 13A-5-47(a) (“Where a sentence of

death is not returned by the jury, the court shall sentence the defendant to life

imprisonment without parole.”) (emphasis added). But Alabama has not made

that statute retroactive, so Smith’s death sentence still stands.

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4 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

lethal injection protocol more broadly—subjected Smith to a sub-

stantial risk of serious harm, and Smith failed to do so.

Smith timely appealed and sought to stay his execution

pending his appeal. We reversed the district court. A majority of

the panel found that Smith pled sufficient facts to plausibly support

an Eighth Amendment method-of-execution claim that was not

barred by the applicable statute of limitations. Because we resolved

Smith’s underlying appeal, we denied as moot his motion for stay

of execution pending appeal. We expedited the mandate so that

Smith’s case could proceed in the district court.

On November 17, 2022, Smith filed an amended complaint

and moved for a preliminary injunction. Smith also sought an

emergency motion to stay his execution. Ultimately, the district

court denied Smith’s request for a preliminary injunction and stay

of execution finding that Smith inexcusably delayed in seeking

these requests. Smith again appealed to this court and moved to

stay his execution. The panel unanimously granted Smith’s re-

quest for stay at approximately 8:00 PM CST. Before the stay was

entered, Smith was taken to the execution chambers.

Smith remained strapped to a gurney in the execution cham-

bers while Alabama’s Office of the Attorney General asked the Su-

preme Court of the United States to allow the execution to pro-

ceed. Smith was not told that his case had been stayed. At approx-

imately 10:00 PM CST, the Supreme Court vacated our stay with-

out any explanation. But the execution team could not obtain IV

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 5

access before the expiration of the death warrant. At approxi-

mately 11:30 PM CST, ADOC called off the execution.

The case returned to the district court where Smith moved

to amend his complaint to include related failed execution claims

and add new defendants. In his second amended complaint, Smith

detailed the almost four hours that he spent on the gurney in the

execution chamber. Smith asserted three claims: (1) an Eighth

Amendment violation that a second execution attempt by lethal in-

jection would constitute cruel and unusual punishment; (2) an

Equal Protection violation by seeking a second attempt to execute

Smith despite not doing the same for another inmate whose execu-

tion failed; and (3) a violation of court order to not deviate from

ADOC’s lethal injection protocol related to Smith’s failed execu-

tion.

ADOC then moved to dismiss the complaint, but the district

court denied in part the motion to dismiss and allowed Smith’s

Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment claims to proceed. Specifi-

cally, the district court found that Smith plausibly alleged an Eighth

Amendment claim, noting:

given Smith’s allegations that he himself experienced

severe pain during a prior execution attempt, and that

the prior execution attempt was the latest in an ongo-

ing pattern of the State’s difficulties in establishing ve-

nous access when attempting to carry out lethal injec-

tion executions, it is plausible, rather than merely pos-

sible, that a second lethal injection execution poses a

substantial risk of severe pain to Smith.

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6 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

ADOC then answered, and the court directed the parties to

develop a case management report under Rule 26. On August 24,

2023, the district court entered a scheduling order and set an initial

disclosures deadline for August 29, 2023. On August 25, 2023,

ADOC moved to dismiss because Hamm determined that nitrogen

hypoxia was available as a means of execution and agreed that le-

thal injection would not be used in any future attempts to execute

Smith. Smith opposed—he agreed with the injunction to prevent

a second execution using lethal injection, but objected to the use of

nitrogen hypoxia without the opportunity to review ADOC’s pro-

tocol to ensure it met constitutional requirements. Based on

ADOC’s representations, the district court granted its motion to

dismiss and entered a permanent injunction barring it from using

lethal injection to execute Smith.

On August 25, 2023, Alabama’s Office of the Attorney Gen-

eral sought authorization from the Alabama Supreme Court to ex-

ecute Smith by nitrogen hypoxia. Over Smith’s objection, on No-

vember 1, 2023, the Alabama Supreme Court granted the motion

and ordered the Commissioner to carry out the death sentence.

On November 8, 2023, the Governor set Smith’s execution for a

thirty-hour time frame beginning January 25, 2024.

That same day, Smith filed this action with the district court

against Hamm and Raybon, alleging that ADOC’s nitrogen hy-

poxia protocol (Protocol) and Alabama’s selection of him to be the

first inmate executed by this method violate several constitutional

and statutory provisions. Smith moved to preliminarily enjoin

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 7

Hamm and Raybon from executing him under the present Proto-

col. They moved to dismiss.

On December 20, 2023, the district court held a hearing on

Smith’s injunction motion, where the court reviewed 111 exhibits,

expert witness declarations, case reports, medical articles, videos of

individuals wearing the mask, the mask itself, and various wit-

nesses testifying to the Protocol’s potential ramifications. On Jan-

uary 10, 2024, the district court granted in part the Defendants’ mo-

tion to dismiss, dismissing Smith’s Fourteenth Amendment claim,

but denied the motion as to the remaining counts, allowing those

claims to proceed. Ultimately, the district court denied Smith’s

motion for preliminary injunction.

The order organized Smith’s claims into Counts One (Four-

teenth Amendment), Two (Eighth Amendment), Three (First

Amendment), Four (RLUIPA), and Five (ARFA). The district court

dismissed Count One, where Smith alleges that his right to equal

protection under the Fourteenth Amendment was violated when

“the State chose [him] to be the first condemned person to be sub-

ject to execution” by nitrogen hypoxia despite his pending state col-

lateral appeal and an Alabama custom that waits for exhaustion of

all conventional appeals. The district court found that Smith

lacked standing because Hamm and Raybon, as the named defend-

ants, lack authority to select inmates and set execution dates under

Alabama law. Since neither Hamm nor Raybon held decisional au-

thority to select Smith, the district court concluded “Count One

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8 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

suffers from traceability and causation infirmities that require its

dismissal.”

As to the remaining counts, the district court held that Smith

properly pled plausible claims as to the remaining counts. Turning

to Count Two, the district court concluded that Smith sufficiently

alleged an Eighth Amendment method-of-execution claim because

taking the allegations as true, the Protocol could increase time to

unconsciousness, presents imminent dangers to superadd pain

(e.g., a persistent vegetative state, stroke, vomiting, or sensation of

suffocation), and two feasible, readily implemented alternative

methods exist (i.e., an amended Protocol with ten proposed

changes or death by firing squad using Utah’s execution protocol).

Turning to Count Three, the district court concluded that Smith

sufficiently alleged a First Amendment free speech claim because

no “compelling government interest” justifies masking Smith for

his final statement, so the Protocol’s burden on speech is not rea-

sonably related to a legitimate penological interest. On Count

Four, the district court determined that Smith plausibly pled a

RLUIPA violation: audible prayer (1) comes from a long history of

traditional religious exercise at prisoners’ executions, (2) is part of

his sincere religious beliefs, and (3) substantially burdens his exer-

cise by forcing “the untenable choice of either praying audibly or

risking the consequences of dislodging the mask.” The district

court also held that “Smith has also necessarily pled a plausible First

Amendment free exercise claim” because RLUIPA “embeds a

heightened standard for government restrictions of the free exer-

cise of religion.” Finally, the district court found a plausible claim

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 9

under ARFA because, although requiring strict scrutiny similar to

RLUIPA, the statute dramatically lowers the threshold from “sub-

stantial burden” to “any burden—even an incidental or insubstan-

tial one.” Therefore, Smith’s pleading under RLUIPA more than

satisfied a claim under ARFA.

However, the district court ultimately denied Smith’s mo-

tion for a preliminary injunction against his execution under the

Protocol. The court held that Smith failed to show a substantial

likelihood of success on the merits under the Eighth Amendment,

RLUIPA, and ARFA.2 First, the district court concluded that

Smith’s Eighth Amendment claim failed because “there is simply

not enough evidence to find with any degree of certainty or likeli-

hood” that the possibility of the mask dislodging or Smith choking

on his own vomit will occur—therefore, “only if a cascade of un-

likely events occurs” would execution under the Protocol superadd

pain or prolong death. Second, the district court rejected Smith’s

RLUIPA claim because ADOC “provided substantial evidence that

the mask will not dislodge if Smith audibly prays during his execu-

tion,” obviating any untenable choice between audibly praying and

prolonging death. Third, the district court determined that Smith’s

ARFA claim failed for similar reasons—Smith failed to show “there

2 Smith’s First Amendment claims under Count 3 were not considered because

Smith did not seek a preliminary injunction based on those grounds. And,

because Smith’s Fourteenth Amendment claim under Count 1 was dismissed,

it was also not considered in the preliminary injunction analysis.

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10 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

is likely to be any burden on his ability to audibly pray during his

execution,” because the evidence “strongly shows the opposite.”

Smith timely appealed and sought a stay of execution. This

court set the case for expedited briefing and oral argument. At oral

argument on January 19, 2024, Smith’s counsel informed the panel

that Smith had started to vomit as his execution date approached

and he had been seen by medical professionals at Holman. That

evening, Smith filed a “Notice of Supplemental Evidentiary Sub-

mission.” The panel construed the filing as a motion to supple-

ment the record and denied that request without prejudice to seek

relief in the district court. On January 20, 2024, Smith moved in

the district court to supplement the record with Smith’s counsel’s

affidavit regarding Smith’s new physical symptoms. On January

22, 2024, the district court denied Smith’s motion to supplement

the record but explained that:

Pursuant Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 62.1(b),

Smith shall notify the Eleventh Circuit’s clerk of court

of this court’s indicative ruling that it would grant his

motions to supplement the record as currently pre-

sented if the Eleventh Circuit remanded for that pur-

pose.

On January 23, 2024, Smith moved again in this court to sup-

plement, or in the alternative, for limited remand. We granted his

motion and remanded for the limited purpose of entertaining

Smith’s motion to supplement the record and permitting the State

to submit additional evidence in response to Smith’s new evidence.

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We asked the district court to determine whether the newly sub-

mitted evidence would change the previous factual findings or con-

clusions of law in its January 10, 2024 order denying Smith’s request

for a preliminary injunction.

Once we remanded, the district court ordered the parties to

file their motions to supplement and argument on how to interpret

the new evidence. Both parties filed motions to supplement.

Smith presented his recent medical records about his vomiting and

supplemental declarations from Dr. Yong and Dr. Porterfield, indi-

cating that the new medical records demonstrate that Smith is

likely to vomit during his execution, along with declarations from

his counsel. The Defendants provided an affidavit from Warden

Raybon stating Smith would receive his last meal at 10:00 a.m. and

would not consume liquids after 4:00 p.m.

The district court reviewed this new evidence and found as

follows:

Even in light of the new evidence, the court cannot

conclude the Defendants’ method of execution cre-

ates a “substantial risk of serious harm, an objectively

intolerable risk of harm that prevents prison officials

from pleading that they were subjectively blameless

for purpose of the Eighth Amendment,” or that Smith

identified “an alternative that is feasible, readily im-

plemented, and in fact significantly reduce[s] [the] risk

of severe pain” he alleges he will suffer if he becomes

nauseous or vomits during the execution.

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12 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

The case returned to us, and Smith renewed his motion to stay his

execution, arguing that with this new information, he is likely to

show a success on the merits of his Eighth Amendment claim.

Turning to the remainder of Smith’s appeal, Smith argues

that the district court erred in dismissing his Fourteenth Amend-

ment claim. Smith argues the district court abused its discretion in

denying him a preliminary injunction on his Eighth Amendment

claim and RLUIPA claims. 3 Last, Smith argues that the district

court abused its discretion in two of its evidentiary rulings.

First, we will address Smith’s argument about the dismissal

of his Fourteenth Amendment claim. Then we will turn to his ar-

guments about the denial of a preliminary injunction and the evi-

dentiary issues associated with that order. Last, we will address

Smith’s motion to stay his execution.

II. Motion to Dismiss

“We review the grant of a motion to dismiss under Rule

12(b)(6) de novo, accepting the allegations in the complaint as true

and construing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.”

Chabad Chayil, Inc. v. Sch. Bd. of Miami-Dade Cnty., 48 F.4th 1222,

1229 (11th Cir. 2022). Similarly, we review a district court’s stand-

ing determinations de novo. Sierra v. City of Hallandale Beach, 996

F.3d 1110, 1112 (11th Cir. 2021). We first address our jurisdiction

over Smith’s Fourteenth Amendment claim. We have jurisdiction

3 In his reply brief, Smith explicitly drops his ARFA claim as it relates to his

preliminary injunction argument.

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 13

to consider Smith’s Eighth Amendment and RLUIPA claims under

28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1), as this is an appeal from an order denying a

preliminary injunction based on those claims. Further, we may ex-

tend our review to Smith’s Fourteenth Amendment claim since it

was “[a]n integral part of the District Court’s denial of the prelimi-

nary injunction.” Speer v. Miller, 15 F.3d 1007, 1010 (11th Cir. 1994).

Since the Fourteenth Amendment served as an integral ground of

Smith’s preliminary injunction request, we exercise jurisdiction

over this claim.

In order to bring a particular claim in federal court, the peti-

tioner must have standing. Jacobson v. Fla. Sec’y of State, 974 F.3d

1236, 1245 (11th Cir. 2020). Standing requires (1) an injury in fact

that (2) is fairly traceable to the defendant’s actions and is (3) likely

to be redressed by a favorable decision. Lujan v. Defs. of Wildlife,

504 U.S. 555, 560–61 (1992). The second requirement demands

that the injury be “fairly traceable to the challenged action of the

defendant, and not the result of the independent action of some

third party not before the court.” Id. at 560 (cleaned up).

Smith challenges the district court’s conclusion that he lacks

standing because his Fourteenth Amendment injury “suffers from

traceability and causation infirmities that require its dismissal.” He

argues that nothing in Alabama law expressly authorizes the Attor-

ney General to select condemned people for execution. But testi-

mony in the record confirms the Attorney General’s primary role

in selecting condemned inmates and serving as the final confirma-

tion for an execution to proceed during the course of Alabama’s

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14 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

execution process. Without the Attorney General’s actions, nei-

ther Hamm nor Raybon may proceed with their duties under Ala-

bama Code § 15-18-82(b) and (c). Rather, Smith’s execution selec-

tion injury is directly traceable to the Attorney General. As a result,

Smith’s Fourteenth Amendment injury fails on traceability

grounds, and therefore he lacks standing to raise this claim.

III. Motion for Preliminary Injunction

“A movant is eligible for a preliminary injunction or a stay

of execution only if he establishes that (1) he has a substantial like-

lihood of success on the merits, (2) he will suffer irreparable injury

unless the injunction or stay issues, (3) the injunction or stay would

not substantially harm the other litigant, and (4) if issued, the in-

junction or stay would not be adverse to the public interest.” Bar-

ber v. Governor of Ala., 73 F.4th 1306, 1317 (11th Cir. 2023). The first

factor is considered one of “the most critical.” Nken v. Holder, 556

U.S. 418, 434 (2009). When a court concludes that the movant fails

to establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, “it [is]

unnecessary” for the court to determine whether the movant “sat-

isfied the second, third, or fourth factors.” Grayson v. Warden,

Comm’r, Ala., 869 F.3d 1204, 1238 n.89 (11th Cir. 2017).

“Our standard of review on appeal is deferential, and we ask

only whether the district court abused its discretion” in either deny-

ing or granting a preliminary injunction. Reeves v. Comm’r, Ala.

Dep’t of Corr., 23 F.4th 1308, 1320 (11th Cir. 2022). “In so doing, we

review the findings of fact of the district court for clear error and

legal conclusions de novo.” Scott v. Roberts, 612 F.3d 1279, 1289 (11th

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 15

Cir. 2010). “This scope of review will lead to reversal only if the

district court applies an incorrect legal standard, or applies im-

proper procedures, or relies on clearly erroneous factfinding, or if

it reaches a conclusion that is clearly unreasonable or incor-

rect.” Schiavo ex rel. Schindler v. Schiavo, 403 F.3d 1223, 1226 (11th

Cir. 2005) (per curiam).

The abuse of discretion standard “recognizes the range of

possible conclusions the [district court] may reach.” United States

v. Frazier, 387 F.3d 1244, 1259 (11th Cir. 2004) (en banc). It “allows

a range of choice for the district court, so long as that choice does

not constitute a clear error of judgment.” Id. (quotation marks

omitted). Thus, under the abuse of discretion standard, we may

not reverse “‘simply because we are convinced that we would have

decided the case differently.’” Price v. Comm’r, Dep’t of Corr., 920

F.3d 1317, 1323 (11th Cir. 2019) (quoting Glossip v. Gross, 576 U.S.

863, 881 (2015)).

Smith argues that he has established a substantial likelihood

of success on the merits, and that the district court abused its dis-

cretion by denying him a preliminary injunction on his Eighth

Amendment and RLUIPA claims. Smith also asserts that the dis-

trict court abused its discretion in two of its evidentiary rulings re-

lated to its preliminary injunction decision. We address each argu-

ment in turn.

A. Eighth Amendment Claim

To state a plausible claim for relief under the Eighth Amend-

ment, a plaintiff must plead “a substantial risk of serious harm, an

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16 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

objectively intolerable risk of harm that prevents prison officials

from pleading that they were subjectively blameless for purposes

of the Eighth Amendment.” Baze v. Rees, 553 U.S. 35, 50 (2008) (in-

ternal quotation marks omitted). The Eighth Amendment inquiry

focuses on whether the state’s chosen method of execution “cruelly

superadds pain to the death sentence” by asking whether the state

has “a feasible and readily implemented alternative method of exe-

cution that would significantly reduce a substantial risk of severe

pain.” Bucklew v. Precythe, 139 S. Ct. 1112, 1125 (2019).

Smith argues that the district court erred in denying his re-

quest for a preliminary injunction because he is likely to succeed

on his Eighth Amendment claim. Smith asserts that the Protocol

as developed by ADOC fails to ensure an airtight seal and would

allow oxygen to infiltrate the mask. This oxygen infiltration while

nitrogen is being pumped into the mask could lead to a persistent

vegetative state, stroke, or suffocation. Smith also argues that his

exposure to high levels of nitrogen, which may cause nausea, in

combination with his documented chronic nausea induced by his

PTSD from his prior execution attempt, could lead to him vomit-

ing and asphyxiation. Finally, Smith argues that he has identified

feasible and readily available alternative methods to ADOC’s pro-

tocol.

To demonstrate that a risk of harm violates the Eighth

Amendment, the petitioner must show the conditions leading to

the risk are “sure or very likely to cause serious illness and needless

suffering,” and will cause “sufficiently imminent dangers.” Helling v.

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 17

McKinney, 509 U.S. 25, 33–34 (1993) (emphasis added). There must

be a “substantial risk of serious harm,” also considered an “objec-

tively intolerable risk of harm,” that negates any contention by

prison officials that they qualify as “subjectively blameless” under

the Eighth Amendment. Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 842, 846,

& n.9 (1994). Further, the petitioner must show that its alternative

method “would significantly reduce a substantial risk of severe

pain. A minor reduction in risk is insufficient; the difference must

be clear and considerable.” Bucklew, 139 S. Ct. at 1130 (internal ci-

tation omitted).

Supreme Court precedent is clear that a new method of ex-

ecution does not automatically establish a claim for cruel and unu-

sual punishment. See id. at 1123–24 (discussing the shift to electro-

cution and how that was not considered cruel in the constitutional

sense); Glossip, 576 U.S. at 881–86 (discussing the changes in lethal

injection drugs and how those changes do not amount to cruel and

unusual punishment); Baze, 553 U.S. at 50–51 (addressing lethal in-

jection for the first time and finding it not to be cruel and unusual).

There is no doubt that death by nitrogen hypoxia is both new and

novel. Because we are bound by Supreme Court precedent, Smith

cannot say that the use of nitrogen hypoxia, as a new and novel

method, will amount to cruel and unusual punishment in violation

of the Eighth Amendment by itself. Rather, Smith must show why

this method will cause him “a demonstrated [substantial] risk of se-

vere pain.” Glossip, 576 U.S. at 878. Smith must also “show a fea-

sible and readily implemented alternative method of execution that

would significantly reduce a substantial risk of severe pain and that

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18 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

[Alabama] has refused to adopt without a legitimate penological

reason.” Bucklew, 139 S. Ct. at 1125.

Here, the district court was tasked with conducting factual

findings for the first new method of execution in over 40 years. The

district court boiled Smith’s arguments down to three:

(1) use of an off-the-shelf mask, as opposed to some

other device such as a hood, subjects Smith ‘to a sub-

stantial risk of oxygen infiltration’; (2) the specific

mask the ADOC intends to use for Smith’s execution

‘will permit the entertainment of room air’ resulting

in a substantial risk of superadded pain short of death;

[and] (3) the Protocol itself, and Smith’s individual cir-

cumstances—now suffering from PTSD and depres-

sion as a result of the failed lethal injection execution

attempt and his looming execution—subjects him to

a “substantial risk of asphyxiation on his own vomit.”

After an analysis of expert testimony, various supporting ex-

hibits, and the mask apparatus, the court held:

What the testimony from the experts shows, if any-

thing from an overall standpoint of consistency, is

that the uninterrupted introduction of pure nitrogen

will result in nitrogen hypoxia and that nitrogen hy-

poxia will ultimately lead to death. On this record,

there is simply not enough evidence to find with any

degree of certainty or likelihood that execution by ni-

trogen hypoxia under the Protocol is substantially

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 19

likely to cause Smith superadded pain short of death

or a prolonged death.

After a thorough review of the underlying record, and in light of

our highly deferential standard of review, we are bound to agree

with the district court’s factual findings. We address the district

court’s findings surrounding the likelihood of vomiting and oxygen

infiltration in turn.4

Our deferential standard of review does not support a find-

ing that the district court’s determination that Smith is not substan-

tially likely to vomit during the execution is clearly erroneous. The

district court found that “[t]he record still lacks evidence demon-

strating when, where, or how much Smith might vomit during the

execution, with or without the mask on, before or during the ad-

ministration of nitrogen.” The district court noted that Smith’s ex-

perts testified that Smith is likely to vomit during the execution

based on the medical records. But even with that information, the

district court balanced this testimony against the Defendants’ alter-

ation of when Smith will receive his last meal, prohibiting solid

food intake for over eight hours before his scheduled execution.

This was similar to one of Smith’s suggested remedies to the Pro-

tocol to reduce the substantial risk of harm. Because there is no

evidence that Smith is likely to vomit at the moment in which ni-

trogen is introduced into the mask, we cannot say that the district

4 As we noted above, this case has been back to the district court for further

review, so the district court’s factual finding on whether Smith is likely to

vomit comes from the district court’s January 24, 2024 order.

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20 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

court erred in finding that Smith would not be at substantial risk of

harm from choking on his vomit during the execution.

We are similarly bound by the district court’s factual find-

ings surrounding a substantial risk of oxygen infiltration. The dis-

trict court found that:

Given its design, the court finds it highly unlikely the

mask would dislodge or that the seal would be broken

and outside air introduced if it is tightly secured on

the condemned inmate’s head in a positive pressure

environment, even under the scenarios Smith alleges

could break the seal—like audibly speaking or mov-

ing his mouth or head.

After a painstaking review of the underlying record, we cannot say

this conclusion is a clear error. Diagrams and testimony about the

mask’s design confirm that its five straps securely fit the mask

across the entire face, with the entire assembly enveloping the

wearer’s head. Videos demonstrate the condemned will be

strapped to a gurney with limited mobility 5 and, coupled with the

mask’s design, it is not clearly erroneous to find it “highly unlikely”

the mask will dislodge. Even if the mask is an imperfect fit, the

footage exhibits an unsecured mask that, when pumped with a

5 Alabama provided video evidence of volunteers who wore the mask, while

strapped to the gurney and spoke while breathing oxygen through the appa-

ratus. We note that this evidence has limited relevance given the vastly differ-

ent circumstances the condemned faces—a second execution, by a novel

method, through the use of an inert gas.

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 21

high volume of nitrogen, creates a rapidly hypoxic environment

over the course of 45 seconds. Taken together, it is not clearly er-

roneous to conclude that the mask will be adequately sealed to cre-

ate sufficiently severe hypoxic conditions that, according to expert

testimony, will lead to unconsciousness within seconds. Based on

this record, we cannot say the mask is “sure or very likely to” dis-

lodge or permit enough oxygen to infiltrate to create a substantial

risk of severe pain. See Helling, 509 U.S. at 33–34.

In Glossip, the Supreme Court reiterated that “prisoners can-

not successfully challenge a method of execution unless they estab-

lish that the method presents a risk that is ‘sure or very likely to cause

serious illness and needless suffering’ and give rise to ‘sufficiently

imminent dangers.” 576 U.S. at 877 (quoting Baze, 553 U.S. at 50).

When the district court assessed Smith’s claim, it discussed that

most of Smith’s claims are predicated on “a cascade of unlikely

events.” And considering the underlying factual findings, which

are not clearly erroneous, Smith is unable to meet the high stand-

ard that Eighth Amendment jurisprudence requires. 6

We are bound by this record to hold the district court did

not clearly err in its substantial risk of serious harm findings. Be-

cause Smith’s claim fails on this prong, his Eighth Amendment

6 We also note that in Glossip, when confronted with little evidence about the

use and effects of midazolam, the Supreme Court explained that the inmate

“bear[s] the burden of persuasion” even if there is a “dearth of evidence.” 576

U.S. at 881–84. The lack of evidence here on the effects nitrogen hypoxia will

have on Smith makes it impossible for us to reverse. Glossip ties our hands.

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22 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

claim must fail.7 We consequently must affirm the district court

on its Eighth Amendment holding.

B. RLUIPA

Under RLUIPA, “[n]o government shall impose a substantial

burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined

to an institution . . . unless the government demonstrates that im-

position of the burden on that person (1) is in furtherance of a com-

pelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means

of furthering that compelling governmental interest.” 42 U.S.C.

§ 2000cc-1(a) (emphasis added). In practice, the person challenging

a policy under RLUIPA bears the initial burden of proving that said

policy implicates and substantially burdens his or her religious ex-

ercise. Holt v. Hobbs, 574 U.S. 352, 360 (2015). Once that burden is

met, the burden shifts to the government, which then must prove

that (1) the policy is in furtherance of a compelling governmental

interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that com-

pelling governmental interest. Id. at 362.

7 We do not address Smith’s alternative methods. But we do want to note that

the district court improperly latched on to Alabama’s “veritable blueprint” ar-

gument when it faulted Smith’s proposed amendments as “far from providing

a feasible, readily implemented alternative nitrogen hypoxia protocol with his

list of proposed amendments.” But the district court overstates Smith’s “fea-

sible” and “readily implemented” requirement and misreads the holding in

Nance v. Ward, 597 U.S. 159 (2022). The Supreme Court did not state “that a

condemned person proposing an alternative method of execution must pro-

vide a veritable blueprint for carrying the death sentence out.” Rather, this

language comes from a factual analogy of that inmate’s proposal—not from a

new legal standard. See 597 U.S. at 169.

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 23

Congress enacted RLUIPA “to provide very broad protec-

tion for religious liberty” by subjecting the State to strict scrutiny

whenever it “substantially burdens [a prisoner’s] religious exer-

cise.” Id. at 356 (quoting Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 573 U.S.

682, 693 (2014)). Under RLUIPA, the term “religious exercise”

broadly “includes any exercise of religion, whether or not com-

pelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief.” 42 U.S.C.

§ 2000cc-5(7)(A). Audible prayer has been recognized by the Su-

preme Court as a form of religious exercise with a rich history in

the United States. See Ramirez v. Collier, 142 S. Ct. 1264, 1278–79

(2022).

Here, Smith argues that the Protocol substantially burdens

his ability to audibly pray during the course of his execution be-

cause he faces an untenable choice—audibly pray or face a substan-

tial risk of superadded pain or prolonged death due to a dislodged

mask. It is not speculative that Smith would engage in religious

exercise because he both audibly prayed and sang the contempo-

rary hymn “I Am Not Alone” during his failed execution. How-

ever, we cannot say that the district court clearly erred when it

found that any risk of the mask gaping or dislodging is speculative

based upon the same factual findings regarding the mask’s design,

fit, and nitrogen volumes above. Without such findings, we cannot

conclude that Smith will be substantially burdened in his ability to

audibly pray during the course of the execution. Based upon this

standard of review, we are bound to accept the district court’s find-

ings as to Smith’s claim and affirm the district court on its RLUIPA

holding.

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24 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

C. Evidentiary Issues

Lastly, Smith asserts that the district court abused its discre-

tion in denying his motion to strike Dr. Antognini’s opinion, and

failing to respond, thus implicitly denying, his motion to compel

information predating ADOC’s adoption of the current protocol.

We typically review evidentiary issues for abuse of discre-

tion. Harrison v. Culliver, 746 F.3d 1288, 1297 (11th Cir. 2014). But

we also have an obligation to review sua sponte whether we have

jurisdiction at any point in the appellate process. See Reaves v. Sec’y,

Fla. Dep’t. of Corr., 717 F.3d 886, 905 (11th Cir. 2013).

Generally, interlocutory discovery orders are not immedi-

ately appealable. Doe No. I v. United States, 749 F.3d 999, 1004 (11th

Cir. 2014). And we find that the district court’s order did not re-

solve Smith’s motion to compel information predating ADOC’s

adoption of the current protocol. Because there is nothing for us

to review, we lack jurisdiction. Cf. Kaimowitz v. Orlando, 122 F.3d

41, 43 (11th Cir. 1997) (per curiam).

As to Smith’s motion to strike Dr. Antognini’s opinion, the

district court overruled the objections as it related to Dr. Antog-

nini, explaining that he would take Smith’s arguments “into con-

sideration as it concerns the weight and credibility.” Although still

uncertain about whether the motion has been resolved, we assume

that the district court’s discussion at the hearing denied the motion.

Even though discovery orders are typically not appealable, we may

review such an order if it is “inextricably intertwined” with an issue

before the court. Jones v. Fransen, 857 F.3d 843, 850 (11th Cir. 2017).

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24-10095 Opinion of the Court 25

Dr. Antognini’s opinion goes directly to several of the issues in the

preliminary injunction, including the mask fit and whether it

would dislodge during use.

Thus, we have jurisdiction to review the district court’s de-

cision denying Smith’s motion to strike Dr. Antognini’s opinion.

Turning to the merits, the district court has wide discretion on ev-

identiary rulings. Harrison, 746 F.3d at 1297. “[W]e will not over-

turn discovery rulings unless it is shown that the District Court’s

ruling resulted in substantial harm to the appellant’s case.” Iraola

& CIA, S.A. v. Kimberly–Clark Corp., 325 F.3d 1274, 1286 (11th Cir.

2003) (internal quotation marks omitted). Smith’s argument fo-

cuses on Dr. Antognini’s review of the system at Holman, tests in-

volving the system, and how it was unfair that he was not privy to

this information. But as Alabama notes, Smith’s main argument

involves the type of mask and how it could possibly dislodge.

Smith’s expert, Dr. Nitschke, inspected the mask and provided his

opinion on whether it could become dislodged, as did Dr. Antog-

nini. Smith deposed Dr. Antognini about the opinion8 and had the

opportunity to cross-examine him at the evidentiary hearing.

Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing Dr.

Antognini’s opinion.

8 Smith does note that he received Dr. Antognini’s opinion late the night be-

fore Dr. Antognini’s deposition. We appreciate the expedited nature of this

case and the balancing of confidential information, but we are concerned and

disheartened that Alabama’s Office of the Attorney General would wait until

late the night before a deposition to provide an expert opinion report, espe-

cially one that was hired before the start of this litigation.

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26 Opinion of the Court 24-10095

IV. Motion to Stay Execution

The standard governing a stay of execution mirrors that for

a preliminary injunction: the movant must establish a substantial

likelihood of success on the merits. See Valle v. Singer, 655 F.3d 1223,

1225 (11th Cir. 2011) (per curiam). For the reasons we have dis-

cussed above, Smith has failed to show a substantial likelihood of

success on the merits of his claims. Accordingly, his motion for a

stay of execution is due to be denied without regard to the other

prerequisites for the issuance of the same.

AFFIRMED.

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24-10095 Wilson, J., Concurring 1

WILSON, Circuit Judge, Concurring:

The Supreme Court has recognized that death is not pain-

less, and an execution that causes pain “by accident or as an ines-

capable consequence of death” does not constitute a risk which

rises to an Eighth Amendment violation. Baze v. Rees, 553 U.S. 35,

50 (2008). But the Eighth Amendment does prohibit an execution

that would amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Id. at 51.

With that in mind, Smith may not be constitutionally guaranteed

a painless death, but I have concerns that these circumstances may

rise to a cruel and unusual execution.1

My first apprehension concerns what would occur if Smith

were to vomit after nitrogen has been turned on, because ADOC

has no protocol to handle this situation. Instead, Cynthia Stewart-

Riley, the ADOC Regional Director, testified that the execution

team will do nothing if this were to happen, which could lead

Smith to asphyxiating. And expert testimony established that if

Smith were to vomit once nitrogen is introduced, Smith faces a

likelihood of asphyxiating on his own vomit. 2

1 We have recognized that Alabama has a history of failed executions. See

Barber v. Governor of Ala., 73 F.4th 1306, 1317 (11th Cir. 2023) (Pryor, J. dissent-

ing) (“Three botched executions in a row are three too many.”).

2 In Dr. Yong’s supplemental declaration, he stated that if Smith is “in a re-

clined position, he will likely inhale vomit and asphyxiate, resulting in painful

sensations of choking and suffocations or even death from asphyxiation.”

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2 Wilson, J. Concurring 24-10095

My second concern focuses on Smith’s prior failed execution

and subsequent litigation. For context, I provide a truncated ver-

sion of past events.

Before his first attempted execution, 3 scheduled for Novem-

ber 17, 2022, Smith repeatedly warned that Alabama would strug-

gle—if not fail—to obtain IV access necessary to complete the le-

thal injection. Smith alleged that Alabama’s lethal injection proto-

col would subject him to an Eighth Amendment method-of-execu-

tion claim, pointing to evidence of Alabama’s recent mishandling

of condemned inmates with similar difficulties. 4 Smith argued that

Alabama recently deviated from its execution protocol twice and

would likely do so again. The district court denied Smith’s motion,

but we reversed, finding that he pled sufficient facts to plausibly

support his Eighth Amendment claim. On November 17, 2022, at

approximately 8:00 PM CST, we unanimously granted Smith’s

3 If Smith were to be convicted and sentenced today, he would be ineligible

for the death penalty. The jury in his capital murder case recommended a sen-

tence of life imprisonment—by a vote of 11 to 1. A single judge had the power

override the reasoned decision of a jury Smith’s peers and impose the death

penalty himself. Judges no longer have this power, as the Supreme Court has

since held that this sort of unilateral sentencing scheme violates criminal de-

fendants’ Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury. Hurst v. Florida, 577 U.S. 92,

94 (2016). Pertinent here, Smith’s conviction predates Hurst’s mandate.

4 In July 2022, Alabama executed Joe Nathan James. James was behind closed

curtains for over three hours as the execution team sought to gain IV access.

In September 2022, Alabama attempted to execute Alan Eugene Miller. Miller

was strapped to a gurney for two hours, his arms outstretched over his head,

while the execution team attempted to gain IV access.

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24-10095 Wilson, J., Concurring 3

request for stay of execution. Before the stay was entered, Alabama

took Smith to the execution chambers. The execution team

strapped Smith to a gurney in the chamber while Alabama sought

to vacate this court’s stay of execution with the United States Su-

preme Court. And at approximately 10:00 PM CST, the Supreme

Court vacated the stay without explanation. When Alabama’s ex-

ecution team attempted to gain IV access, Smith explained that

“[the IV Team] began repeatedly jabbing Mr. Smith’s arms and

hands with needles, well past the point at which the executioners

should have known that it was not reasonably possible to access a

vein.” As Smith predicted, Alabama was unable to obtain IV ac-

cess, and at 11:30 PM CST Alabama called off the execution.

Smith filed an amended complaint to include allegations

from his failed execution. He asserted that a second execution

would constitute cruel and unusual punishment and violate his

equal protection rights. Alabama moved to dismiss the complaint,

but this time, the district court allowed Smith’s Eighth and Four-

teenth Amendment claims to proceed, noting that:

[Smith’s] allegations, which must be assumed true at

this stage, go well beyond merely being pricked sub-

cutaneously over a brief period in an attempt to es-

tablish an IV line. Rather, Smith’s allegations support

a plausible claim of cruel superadded pain as part of

the execution, as multiple needle insertions over the

course of one-to-two hours into muscle and into the

collarbone in a manner emulating being stabbed in

the chest, in combination with being strapped to the

gurney for up to four hours and at one point being

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4 Wilson, J. Concurring 24-10095

placed in a stress position for an extended period of

time, goes “so far beyond what [is] needed to carry

out a death sentence that [it] could only be explained

as reflecting the infliction of pain for pain’s sake.”

Moreover, given Smith’s allegations that he himself

experienced severe pain during a prior execution at-

tempt, and that the prior execution attempt was the

latest in an ongoing pattern of the State’s difficulties

in establishing venous access when attempting to

carry out lethal injection executions, it is plausible, ra-

ther than merely possible, that a second lethal injec-

tion execution poses a substantial risk of severe pain

to Smith.

The district court directed the parties to develop a case man-

agement report under Rule 26 to begin the discovery process. The

district court entered a scheduling order and set a deadline for ini-

tial disclosures. The next day (four days before the initial disclo-

sures’ deadline), Alabama moved to dismiss because John Hamm,

Commissioner of ADOC, determined that nitrogen hypoxia would

be an available method of execution. He also affirmed that lethal

injection would not be used in any future attempts to execute

Smith. Smith’s counsel agreed with the injunction to prevent a sec-

ond execution by lethal injection. However, he objected to the use

of nitrogen hypoxia, as Alabama only provided Smith—and the

court—with a heavily redacted version of their proposed protocol

and sparse detail on how the execution would work in practice.

Nonetheless, the district court granted Alabama’s motion to

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24-10095 Wilson, J., Concurring 5

dismiss and entered a permanent injunction barring Alabama from

using lethal injection to execute Smith.

But as our opinion explains, the standard of review governs

our determination on whether the district court made clearly erro-

neous factual findings. Clear error mandates that “[if] the district

court’s view of the evidence is plausible in light of the entire record,

an appellate court may not reverse even if it is convinced that it

would have weighed the evidence differently in the first instance.”

Barber v. Governor of Ala., 73 F.4th 1306, 1317 (11th Cir. 2023) (quot-

ing Brnovich v. Democratic Nat’l Comm., 141 S. Ct. 2321, 2349 (2021))

(emphasis added). And, for Smith to prevail, he must show that

those factual findings are clearly erroneous. Like our opinion

notes, Smith has failed to meet this demanding burden. Thus, I

must concur.

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24-10095 JILL PRYOR, J., Dissenting 1

JILL PRYOR, Circuit Judge, Dissenting:

The State of Alabama seeks to test an entirely new method

of execution on Kenny Smith, opting for him to die not by lethal

injection, but by nitrogen gas. Alabama proposes to do so even

though its new nitrogen gas protocol has never been tested and de-

spite real doubts about the protocol’s ability to safeguard a con-

demned person’s constitutional rights. And—critically, as I view

this case—Alabama has chosen this condemned person, this proto-

col, and this moment, even though Mr. Smith is suffering mentally

and physically from the posttraumatic stress Alabama caused when

it botched its first attempt to execute him in 2022.

What is all of this likely to look like when the time comes

for Mr. Smith to face his death again? He will be escorted by his

executioners to the same execution chamber that was previously

used for the first attempted execution. Inside the chamber, he will

be strapped to a gurney, the same one that held him for hours as he

endured excruciating pain just over a year ago. Nitrogen gas will

begin to flow into the mask. Under these conditions Mr. Smith’s

undisputed posttraumatic stress disorder, which no one contests is

causing him to persistently vomit, will be at its absolute peak. At

the same time, he will experience oxygen deprivation, a known ef-

fect of which is vomiting. If Mr. Smith vomits, his executioners

will not intervene—they have told us so—even as vomit fills the

mask and flows into Mr. Smith’s nose and mouth. Then, at last, Mr.

Smith’s body will succumb to the effects of oxygen deprivation,

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2 JILL PRYOR, J., Dissenting 24-10095

asphyxiation, or both. He will die. The cost, I fear, will be Mr.

Smith’s human dignity, and ours. See Hall v. Florida, 572 U.S. 701,

708 (2014).

The Supreme Court has imposed a high bar on a condemned

person seeking to prove that his impending execution will violate

the Eighth Amendment’s guarantee against cruel and unusual pun-

ishment. He must show that “the risk of pain associated with the

State’s method is substantial when compared to a known and avail-

able alternative.” Bucklew v. Precythe, 139 S. Ct. 1112, 1125 (2019)

(internal quotation marks omitted). The district court found that

Mr. Smith had satisfied neither the substantial risk part of the test

nor the known and available alternative part. As for the known and

available alternative part, the district court legally erred in applying

a “veritable blueprint” standard. See Maj. Op. at 22 n.7. Without

addressing Mr. Smith’s proposed amendments to the nitrogen gas

protocol, I would hold that he has identified firing squad as a

known and available alternative.

I part with the majority opinion because I believe the district

court clearly erred in its factual findings regarding the substantial

risk part of the Supreme Court’s Eighth Amendment test. The dis-

trict court said Mr. Smith’s claim that he is likely to vomit during

the execution while nitrogen is flowing is “possible only upon the

occurrence of a cascade of unlikely events.” But the record shows

that Mr. Smith is likely to vomit, both because of the undisputed

effects of oxygen deprivation and because of the undisputed activa-

tion of his posttraumatic stress disorder from the first botched

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24-10095 JILL PRYOR, J., Dissenting 3

execution attempt, of which his persistent vomiting is a docu-

mented symptom. Because no one will intervene if he vomits, his

vomit will flood his face, both nose and mouth. And the record re-

flects that when a person inhales vomit and asphyxiates, he experi-

ences “painful physical sensations of choking and suffocation.” As I

see it, this cascade of likely events is, in turn, likely to prolong or

superadd pain and suffering to Mr. Smith’s death. I view the district

court’s findings of fact otherwise as clearly erroneous. And given

the record evidence about the effects of this execution on this indi-

vidual, I would conclude that Mr. Smith has shown a substantial

likelihood of success on the merits of his Eighth Amendment claim,

and I would not allow his execution to proceed. 1

Respectfully, I dissent.

1 Because I would enjoin Mr. Smith’s execution on Eighth Amendment

grounds, I would not reach his remaining claims in this appeal.