NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — A prominent group of Nashville pastors and priests has joined anti-death penalty advocates to publicly condemn Governor Bill Lee’s decision to proceed with the state’s upcoming execution schedule, following a failed lethal injection attempt two months ago.
The religious leaders, collaborating with the organization Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (TADP), gathered at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville to demand a comprehensive investigation into the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and its execution protocols.
The pushback comes after the May 21 execution of inmate Tony Carruthers was abruptly halted when a prison physician spent an hour and a half failing to locate a mandatory secondary vein. The error forced Governor Lee to issue a temporary, one-year stay of execution for Carruthers.
Faith Leaders and Lawmakers Express Concern
Faith leaders expressed deep frustration over the state’s management of capital punishment, pointing not only to the Carruthers incident but also to the August 2025 execution of Byron Black, during which witnesses reported the inmate appeared to experience prolonged pain.
“What happened to Tony Carruthers on May 21 is unconscionable and must be addressed before any more executions move forward,” said a local Disciples of Christ pastor. “As a faith leader and a Tennessean, I am disappointed in the governor’s response to what is clearly a crisis.”
The demand for transparency is gaining bipartisan traction. State Senator Tom Hatcher (R-Blount County), who chairs the state’s prison oversight committee, has formally requested a review to streamline the process for victims’ families.
“By no means do we want to stop executions. That’s not what we’re trying to do,” Hatcher noted, emphasizing that the legislative concern focuses on protocol execution and operational competence rather than abolishing the death penalty itself.
Governor Defends State Protocol
Despite the growing criticism from clergy and lawmakers, Governor Lee remains steadfast in his decision to maintain the current schedule. Speaking to reporters recently, Lee insisted that the Department of Correction handled the complications correctly by halting the procedure when guidelines could not be met.
“As we have observed, everything about the protocol of the death penalty in the state was carried out appropriately,” Lee said. “The Department of Corrections did exactly what they were supposed to do. The protocol itself still stands as it should.”
The state currently has three executions remaining on the 2026 calendar: Anthony “Darrell” Hines on August 13, Christa Gail Pike on September 30, and Gary Wayne Sutton on December 3. Legal teams and activist groups state they will continue fighting for a judicial or executive pause before the August date.
