Willie James Pye

The case involves a kidnapping, rape, and murder. The issue is not if Willie James Pye should have been punished. 

(Pye does deny he did it but rather unconvincingly. At best, some of the details might be wrong. Here's an extended profile by an excellent reporter who does this sort of thing.) 

There is an allegation that Georgia has too high of a test in place to show intellectual disability. The media challenges the secrecy of the execution protocols. 

Three of the original jurors now oppose his execution, including because of fear he did not get adequate representation. The 11th Circuit (not a liberal circuit) originally granted that. But, a full panel overturned them. 

The timing of the reversal also resulted in some bad luck. The state put a COVID-related moratorium in place. The profile I linked at the top explains how he lost out because the reversal took too long.

Other procedural concerns are also raised. This continued until today.  Again, there should be a national policy to end appeals (unless something unexpected arises) within twenty-four or forty-eight hours before the execution. 

There is also the ongoing question (at least for me) of what legitimate public purpose remains to execute people after a long period (here after thirty years).  

The intellectual disability and COVID matter factored in two Hail Mary SCOTUS appeals that dropped late afternoon or early evening on the execution day. I continue to find this bad policy and morbid. There should be a 24-48 hour window for the government to execute free from appeals. An exception can be left open for special cases. 

Anyway, SCOTUS (again) waved off the appeals with no statements or dissents on record. Formally, we can't say "no one dissented" since all that is necessary is a majority to decide. Nonetheless, if no one dissents on the record, it is like a noise in the woods with no one around.  

Georgia executed him.