# Tennessee execution of Christa Pike halted by court

- Topic: usa
- Source: [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
- Published: 2026-09-30
- Original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Language: en
- Image: https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/d7cd/live/e4a1ffd0-bbdb-11f1-bd21-bdf910f2cec6.jpg

## At a glance

- The Sixth Circuit Appeals court halted Christa Pike's execution one hour before the scheduled time.
- Lawyers are challenging Tennessee's lethal injection method, claiming it could cause unconstitutional suffering.
- The stay follows a Supreme Court refusal to grant a reprieve and a denied clemency request.
- Pike was convicted in 1996 for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer.

## Sources

- [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)

## The story

A federal appeals court halted the scheduled execution of Christa Pike just one hour before it was set to take place in Tennessee. Judges from the Sixth Circuit Appeals court issued the stay on Wednesday, stating they require additional time to review legal arguments regarding Pike's case.

The legal challenge focuses on Tennessee's lethal injection method. Pike's defense team argues that the current procedures could cause unconstitutional suffering and that the state has denied her a fair opportunity to challenge these methods. This stay follows a recent refusal by the Supreme Court to grant a reprieve and a decision by the Tennessee governor to deny clemency.

Pike has been on death row since 1996 for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer. Her lawyers have also raised concerns regarding the state's inconsistent stance on her history of childhood sexual abuse. While the Tennessee Attorney General has requested the Supreme Court lift the stay, the duration of this judicial pause remains uncertain.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)