During the attempted execution of Romell Broom, one of the Death Delivery Squad pierced a hypodermic needle into Broom's arm 18 times in search of a viable vein. A federal judge temporarily enjoined a second execution attempt, giving Broom's attorneys time to argue that "the pain Broom experienced during the aborted attempt violates a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment."
Some commentators have been disdainful of this argument. Perhaps exemplary of this view is Kent Scheidegger's post, here:
And what is this horrible torture? "Broom told his attorneys he was pricked* as many as 18 times Tuesday as prison staff tried to find a suitable vein." [Quoting the AP article.]
Poor baby! He suffered 18 pinpricks! Remember what this guy did.
I quite agree. Which is why I favor instituting capital punishment by Russian Roulette, which does not sting at all, and is obviously therefore not cruel.
*Side Note: The verb 'prick' (also a noun in some contexts) is the AP reporter's characterization. Broom's own description is quoted later in the article, and it makes it clear that 'prick' is probably not an apt description. Not that that fact matters.
