Death row inmates have traditionally been allowed to choose their final meal before execution. However, this practice was halted after a convicted murderer, Lawrence Russell Brewer, refused to eat his elaborate last meal, which included a variety of dishes like a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, pizza, omelette, fajitas, steaks, and more.
Brewer, who was executed for the murder of James Byrd Jr., shocked prison officials by declining to eat any of the food he requested, claiming he was not hungry. This led to the immediate suspension of last meal requests for other inmates in Texas, with prisoners now receiving standard meals for their final repast.
The decision to end the tradition was made swiftly following Brewer’s execution, as the authorities deemed his extravagant food request unacceptable. Senator John Whitmire supported the move, stating that death row inmates should not be granted such privileges that their victims were denied.
This change in policy came after two decades since another inmate, James Edward Smith, had his unusual request for a “lump of dirt” denied by prison officials. The stricter regulations on last meal requests continue to spark debates among the public, with some speculating that Brewer’s excessive order was a deliberate attempt to provoke the prison staff.
As discussions persist on the limitations imposed on final meal choices, opinions vary on whether the new restrictions are justified given the circumstances of impending death.