Two former South Carolina prison executioners have sued the state's top prison officials in federal court alleging they were forced to conduct executions even though they were not trained to do so. They also claim that had they refused, they would have lost their jobs or been demoted.

Neither man was trained or prepared for using the electric chair, the suits allege, "with its shocking smell and scene of agony." And neither man was offered counseling, the suits allege.

"Although these executions were barbaric, gruesome and repulsive to the plaintiff, he continued to perform them under the implied threat by the defendant Ward that such service was necessary if he was to continue to act as team leader and to receive the salary supplement and other benefits of his major’s position," Baxley’s suit alleges.

You can read their complaints here and here (pdf.)