i want to bring in brian stevenson for more perspective on this. he is the founder and executive director of the equal justice initiative. first of all, we talked a little bit before the break. are you involved in this case in any way, and, if so, what sorts of things have you been saying? >> well, we've been working with the attorneys representing mr. smith for quite a while. they were recruited by our office to take on this case. we've been arguing for a long time that alabama should suspend executions in light of the multiple failed executions that have taken place over the last two years. mr. smith was taken to the chamber in 2022, strapped to a gurney for four hours, and the state could not complete the execution because they could not access his veins. we thought it was barbaric and torturous. based on that, he should not be subjected to a sent execution, period. the state changed the method tonig tonito nitrogen, untested method, and now they're going to experiment on him, someone already traumatized by the torturous attempt in 2022. >> we h

he's brian stevenson with the equal justice initiative. you may know adam schiff's work to protect the rule of law, or to build affordable housing, or write california's patients bill of rights. but i know adam through the big brother program. we've been brothers since i was seven. he stood by my side as i graduated from yale and i stood by his side when he married eve, the love of his life. i'm a little biased, but take it from adam's little brother. he'll make us all proud as california senator. i'm adam schiff and i approve this message. >>> alabama death row inmate kenneth smith was just executed using nitrogen gas, the first time this has been done in the united states. he was convicted of murder for the 1988 killer of elizabeth senna, a few years later, the conviction was overturned on a procedural issue. it wasn't until 1996 when smith was re-tried and convicted with the recommendation of life in prison. a judge overruled the recommendation and sentenced him to death. but it wasn't until 2022 that the state even attempted to carry o

i mean you kill a killer like brian stevenson was saying. someone burns down a house, they rape somebody you send a rape squad in every friday night. you imitate the worst possible human behavior. how does that save anybody? we can do better than this, we've got to do better than this. the only way you've got to keep educating the people to say are you sure we need to do this, is this what we need to be doing? and it doesn't stop violence in any way. we really know that. there's no deterrent value in this at all. >> sister helen prejean, you're asking the right questions. one you've mentioned on february 28th. we will follow that story. and please, don't hesitate to come back. i've learned a lot from you over the years. it has guided many a principle prosecutor, and i appreciate your time. thank you. >> laura, what's going to stop it is us. us getting educated, people like you, people like us keep getting the truth out. thank you. >>> there is breaking news. the founder of wwe vince mcmahon resigning from his role in the company after being

he is brian stevenson from the equal juststice under r sheet o. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ alabama death row inmateexecuted using nitrogen gas. the first time this is ever been done in the united states. he was convicted of murder for the 1988 killing of elizabeth senate, just a few years later in 1992 the conviction was overturned on a procedural issue. it wasn't until 96 96 when he was retried and convicted with a recommendation of life in prison. a judge overruled the recommendation and sentenced and to death. it wasn't until 2022 that the state even attempted to carry out the execution. that attempt failed. just a year later, an alabama court ruled execution by nitrogen gas would now be acceptable. there were two last minute appeals to the supreme court, his lawyers are getting a second attempt when of execution this time by nitrogen gas my run afoul of the constitution prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. both of those appeals were denied. the last such denial happening earlier tonight with the liberal justices saying they would have paused the execution. joining me now, brian stephens