Alabama House votes to bring ‘Yellow Mama’ electric chair out of retirement

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March 11, 2015

"Yellow Mama" Electric Chair in Holman Prison — “Yellow Mama” Electric Chair in Holman Prison

For three-quarters of a century (1927-2002), executions in Alabama were carried out using an electric chair dubbed “Yellow Mama,” a nickname it was given after being covered in the same paint used to stripe Alabama’s highways. “Mama” has been in storage since 2002 when legislation was passed giving prisoners the ability to opt for lethal injection. But if the Alabama House of Representatives has its way, the chair may be brought out of retirement.

The Alabama House on Wednesday passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Lynn Greer (R-Rogersville) allowing the state to use the electric chair for executions if they continue to have difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs, or if that method of execution is found to be unconstitutional. The drugs have been criticized for being “cruel and unusual punishment” after several botched executions in other states.

There is also a lawsuit pending in Alabama to compel the state to release secret details about its lethal injection procedures, including the names of the companies who supply the chemicals.

“Theoretically, an hour before an execution is carried out, the [Department of Corrections] could unilaterally decide to lethally inject a condemned inmate with any form of poison sufficient to effectuate death, even if the poison results in excruciating pain, and where painless alternatives are available,” the lawsuit states.

But the Alabama House on Wednesday passed a bill to continue keeping the details of the state’s lethal injection procedures a secret.

“If lethal injection is to continue in this state, the people who manufacture the drugs need privacy because of what they are doing,” said Rep. Mac McCutcheon (R-Capshaw).

Greer said the state needs to push forward with electric chair executions because the extended time death row inmates are cared for by the state is costing taxpayers too much money.

“Those on death row today may be there for many many more years, because if we’re using the lethal injection drugs and we don’t have the drugs then we have no way of carrying out the process.” he said.

But even though Greer’s bill passed by an overwhelming margin, not everyone agreed with what he’s trying to do.

“You would change your mind if someone in your family was picked up and accused falsely,” said Rep. Barbara Boyd, D-Anniston.