Case: Workman v. Bredesen

3:07-cv-00490 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Filed Date: May 4, 2007

Closed Date: 2007

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Case Summary

On May 4, 2007, Philip Workman filed a Complaint and Motion for Temporary Restraining Order in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, seeking to enjoin the State of Tennessee from carrying out his execution through lethal injection. In April of 2007, the state released a new lethal injection protocol following a 90-day reprieve of all executions. Workman, who was represented by attorneys with the Office of the Federal Public Defender, argued that the new protoc…

On May 4, 2007, Philip Workman filed a Complaint and Motion for Temporary Restraining Order in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, seeking to enjoin the State of Tennessee from carrying out his execution through lethal injection. In April of 2007, the state released a new lethal injection protocol following a 90-day reprieve of all executions. Workman, who was represented by attorneys with the Office of the Federal Public Defender, argued that the new protocol was similar to those in other states that had been declared unconstitutional by federal courts. The plaintiff raised various claims under the Eighth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

A hearing was held that day and the court (Judge Todd J. Campbell) issued a Temporary Restraining Order. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Judge Jeffrey F. Sutton) vacated the order, holding that the plaintiff unduly delayed in bringing his claims and was unlikely to be successful in the merits of his constitutional claims. Workman v. Bredesen, 2007 WL 1311330 (M.D. Tenn. May 7, 2007). The case was dismissed as moot after Workman was executed on May 9, 2007.

Summary Authors

Angela Heverling (7/27/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4383170/parties/workman-v-bredesen/


Judge(s)

Campbell, Todd J. (Tennessee)

Sutton, Jeffrey S. (Ohio)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bottei , Paul R. (Tennessee)

Henry , Kelley J. (Tennessee)

Attorney for Defendant

Hudson , Mark Alexis (Tennessee)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:07-cv-00490

Docket [PACER]

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

May 13, 2007

May 13, 2007

Docket
1

3:07-cv-00490

Motion for Temporary Restraining Order

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

Pleading / Motion / Brief
6

3:07-cv-00490

Amended Complaint

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

Complaint
8

3:07-cv-00490

Temporary Restraining Order

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

Order/Opinion

07-05562

Court of Appeals Decision

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

May 7, 2007

May 7, 2007

Order/Opinion

486 F.3d 896

17

3:07-cv-00490

Order

May 13, 2007

May 13, 2007

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4383170/workman-v-bredesen/

Last updated March 24, 2026, 4:55 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Philip Workman. (rm) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

RECAP
2

MEMORANDUM in Support of 1 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order filed by Philip Workman. (rm) Additional attachment(s) added on 5/4/2007 (rm, ). Additional attachment(s) added on 5/4/2007 (rm, ). (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

3

APPLICATION to Proceed in forma pauperis by Philip Workman. (rm) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

4

ORDER: Pending before the Court are Plaintiff's Application to Proceed IFP and Motion for TRO. The Application to Proceed IFP is granted. The Court will hold a hearing on the Motion for TRO today, 5/4/2007 at 1:30 pm in Courtroom A826 before Chief Judge Todd J. Campbell. Signed by Judge Todd J. Campbell on 5/4/07. 3 1 (aef, ) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

5

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Todd J. Campbell : Motion Hearing held on 5/4/2007 re 1 MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order filed by Philip Workman,. Order to enter. (Court Reporter Cathy Leigh.) (km, ) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

6

AMENDED COMPLAINT against all defendants, filed by Philip Workman.(Henry, Kelley) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

7

Amended MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Philip Workman. (Henry, Kelley) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

8

ORDER granting 1 & 7 Motion for TRO on the terms and conditions stated herein. This Temporary Restraining Order shall expire on 5/14/07. The hearing on a motion for preliminary injunction will be held on 5/14/07 at 8:00 a.m. This TRO is effective upon its issuance on 5/4/07 at 4:15 p.m. Signed by Judge Todd J. Campbell on 5/4/07. (gi, ) Modified on 5/7/2007 (gi, ). (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

9

TRANSCRIPT prepared by OCR Cathy Leigh for Proceedings (Motion for Temporary Restraining Order) held on 5/4/07 before Chief Judge Campbell.(This document is NOT available on-line. Contact the court reporter at 615-726-8697 to purchase a copy) (gi, ) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

10

NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 8 Order on Motion for TRO, by Phil Bredesen, George Little, Ricky Bell, Gayle Ray, Roland Colson, Julian Davis, Debbie Inglis, John Doe Physicians 1-100, John Doe Pharmacists 1-100, John Doe Medical Personnel 1-100, John Doe Executioners 1-100, John Does 1-100. (Hudson, Mark) (Entered: 05/04/2007)

May 4, 2007

May 4, 2007

11

USCA Appeal Fees received $ 455 receipt number 100 114679 re 10 Notice of Appeal, filed by Ricky Bell, Gayle Ray, John Does 1-100, George Little, Phil Bredesen, Roland Colson, John Doe Physicians 1-100, John Doe Pharmacists 1-100, John Doe Medical Personnel 1-100, John Doe Executioners 1-100, Julian Davis, Debbie Inglis, (km, ) (Entered: 05/07/2007)

May 7, 2007

May 7, 2007

12

OPINION of USCA vacating the district court's temporary restraining order. (gi, ) (Entered: 05/08/2007)

May 7, 2007

May 7, 2007

13

AMENDED TRANSCRIPT prepared by OCR Cathy Leigh for Proceedings (Motion for Temporary Restraining Order) held on 5/4/07 before Chief Judge Campbell.(This document is NOT available on-line. Contact the court reporter at 615-726-8697 to purchase a copy) (gi, ) (Entered: 05/08/2007)

May 8, 2007

May 8, 2007

14

Appeal Remark re 10 Notice of Appeal, : Letter (copy) from Kathryn Kasner, Case Mgr., 6CCA to Mr. Mark Hudson re Case No. 07-5562. (km, ) (Entered: 05/09/2007)

May 9, 2007

May 9, 2007

18

INFORMATION COPY from 6CCA vacating the district court's temporary restraining order. (km, ) (Entered: 05/14/2007)

May 10, 2007

May 10, 2007

15

First MOTION to Dismiss by Phil Bredesen, George Little, Ricky Bell, Gayle Ray, Roland Colson, Julian Davis, Debbie Inglis. (Hudson, Mark) (Entered: 05/11/2007)

May 11, 2007

May 11, 2007

16

MEMORANDUM in Support of 15 First MOTION to Dismiss filed by Phil Bredesen, George Little, Ricky Bell, Gayle Ray, Roland Colson, Julian Davis, Debbie Inglis. (Hudson, Mark) (Entered: 05/11/2007)

May 11, 2007

May 11, 2007

17

ORDER: Motion to Dismiss is moot because pltf Philip R. Workman was executed on 5/9/07. This case is dismissed without prejudice as moot. Signed by Judge Todd J. Campbell on 5/13/07. (gi, ) (Entered: 05/14/2007)

May 13, 2007

May 13, 2007

Case Details

State / Territory:

Tennessee

Case Type(s):

Criminal Justice (Other)

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 4, 2007

Closing Date: 2007

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Death-row prisoner challenging the constitutionality of Tennessee's three-drug lethal-injection protocol and seeking a temporary restraining order suspending his execution

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State

State of Tennessee

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Other Dockets:

Middle District of Tennessee 3:07-cv-00490

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 07-05562

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Relief Granted:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Death Penalty:

Lethal Injection - General

Recommended Citation