A community conversation on the death penalty and the botched execution of Christa Pike

One week ago, Tennessee tried to carry out the execution of Christa Pike. The execution did not go as planned. Pike survived the lethal injection, making her case an unprecedented moment in the history of capital punishment.

Today, we’re bringing together a death row chaplain, a policy expert from the nonpartisan Death Penalty Information Center, and two journalists who witnessed the execution. We’ll discuss the latest on Pike’s condition and case, as well as the broader legal, ethical and policy questions surrounding the death penalty.

And we want to hear from you. Did what happened to Christa Pike change your perspective on capital punishment — or strengthen your viewpoint?

This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

Guests:

Steven Hale, criminal justice reporter, The Nashville Banner; author, Death Row Welcomes You

Rev. Tim Holton, Tennessee death row chaplain; family of murdered victims & the executed murderer

Robin Maher, executive director, Death Penalty Information Center

Catherine Sweeney, reporter, Nashville Public Radio