TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 18, 2026

Tens of thousands of people are seeking to stop the scheduled execution of Tony Carruthers, which is set for Thursday. According to the Fox 13, about 80,000 people have signed a petition urging Gov. Bill Lee to halt the execution. Advocates argue that untested DNA and fingerprint evidence could point to another suspect. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also is pursuing efforts in both state and federal courts to delay the execution until additional forensic testing can be conducted. The latest request for a stay was denied Friday by U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson of the Middle District of Tennessee, who wrote that Carruthers “lacks a significant likelihood of success on each of his claims.” The ACLU has appealed that ruling to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.