Louisiana death row inmate’s execution backed by AG Liz Murrill

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana death row inmate Jessie Hoffman is scheduled to be the state’s first execution since 2010. Attorney General Liz Murrill said she’s supportive of the state’s execution schedule.

Hoffman is also set to be the first death row inmate who will be put to death by nitrogen gas.
In a lawsuit filed, Hoffman asked a federal court to stay his execution, according to Murrill Wednesday at the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge.

“The most recent thing that’s happened is a new lawsuit that was filed today in the Middle District of Louisiana. It is assigned to Judge Dick and it’s, I think, it’s a response to the fact that the Fifth Circuit blocked reopening the old Hoffman lawsuit. I haven’t seen the allegations in the lawsuit yet,” she said.

Murrill said she hasn’t personally spoken to the family of Mary “Molly” Elliot, the victim murdered by Hoffman in 1996, but said she will stand behind the set execution and do whatever it takes to get justice for the family.

The attorney general said her job is to see that state law is carried out, not undermine law and block the death penalty.

“It is my job to defend the law of this state and see that it is carried out, and so that’s what I’m doing,” she said.

Hoffman’s execution is scheduled for March 18.

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