When Alabama executed Ronald Bert Smith last week, it attracted attention around the country. Witnesses say Smith heaved and coughed for 13 minutes during the lethal injection. Alabama’s prison commissioner says proper procedures were followed, but an autopsy would be performed to determine whether there were irregularities. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald says as disturbing as the execution was, it’s the way the death sentence came about– through judicial override– that bothers him more.