Brandon Bernard was executed on December 10 2020 at 9:27 p.m. His execution was a result of a crime he assisted in in 1999, at only 18 years of age. The crime led to a kidnapping and murder.  The judges who originally charged Bernard stated that they no longer found the death penalty fit.

About a week before he was set to be executed awareness about him and his sentence spread on several social media applications, like TikTok and Instagram. Outrage about the death penalty began to spread. Many set up petitions to try to avoid the death penalty but were unsuccessful. 

Bernard is one of nine inmates that have been executed this year under the Trump Administration. In only July of this year, Trump approved 17 federal executions. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1988, only three federal executions have taken place. 

Another inmate who is planned to be executed is Alfred Bourgeois. If his execution continues, that will set a new record for the number of death penalties issued in one year.