South Carolina Supreme Court

The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that the state may resume executions by lethal injection, electric chair, and firing squad, ending a moratorium of over a decade. This decision allows death row inmates to choose their method of execution, a move aimed at reducing perceived cruelty, although two justices expressed concerns about the legality and humanity of the firing squad and electric chair. Governor Henry McMaster praised the ruling as a reinforcement of the rule of law and a means to provide closure to victims' families. The ruling comes amid a nationwide debate on the death penalty, with South Carolina's approach potentially influencing other states facing similar execution challenges. As many as 32 inmates are currently on death row, but the timeline for resuming executions remains unclear. The state's Department of Corrections is prepared to carry out executions once an order is issued by the Supreme Court.