USA - Nebraska. State lawmakers gave 1st-round approval today to LB 36 which replaces the electric chair with lethal injection

State lawmakers gave, with a vote of 34-4, 1st-round approval today to LB 36 which replaces the electric chair with lethal injection. Nebraska has been without a means of execution since the state Supreme Court ruled the electric chair, Nebraska's only means of execution, as cruel and unusual punishment (see Feb. 8, 2008). Now Nebraska looks to Kentucky for modeling its new law after the Supreme Court ruled that Kentucky's method of carrying out lethal injection is constitutional. The lethal injection bill must pass 2 more rounds of debate. Gov. Dave Heineman said he hopes the bill makes it to his desk, where he'll sign it into law. There are 11 men on Nebraska's death row; the last execution was in 1997.