Supreme Court Rejects Inmate’s Request to Have His Pacemaker Turned Off Before Lethal Injection

Byron Lewis Black’s attorneys argued that lethal injection will cause his pacemaker to shock him and cause unnecessary pain.

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on July 14, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

The U.S. Supreme Court on Aug. 4 declined to stay the execution of a Tennessee inmate whose lawyers argued his pacemaker may cause him pain by shocking him during the execution process.

Byron Lewis Black is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Aug. 5. On the evening of Aug. 4, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, said he would not grant Black a reprieve.