Anomalies: Ritual and Language in Lethal Injection Regulations (2008)

Abstract

The state lethal injection protocols do not regulate lethal injections, but instead describe hypothetical rituals meant to reassure the reader - whomever that might be - that a controlled and orderly process, in accordance with the rule of law, will take place. The protocols are public relations documents, not legitimate legal regulations. Their status of 'non-legal' documents, provisions without legal authority is evident from the fact that they apparently are not governed by state administrative procedure acts.

Keywords: lethal injection protocols, execution rituals, administrative procedure, procedure as ritual, death penalty, cruel and unusual

JEL Classification: K14, K42