A Death Row convict, Lawrence Brewer, who had ordered a lavish meal comprising steaks, burgers, and a “pound of chicken,” declined to eat the food citing an unusual reason. Brewer, executed in 2011 for the murder of James Byrd Jr., expressed no remorse for his role in the crime. Despite requesting an extravagant last meal consisting of a variety of dishes, Brewer abstained from consuming any of it, claiming he was not hungry. Consequently, the state of Texas discontinued the practice of granting special last meal requests to Death Row inmates.
In a significant policy shift, Texas officials ceased offering custom last meal options following Brewer’s incident. This decision followed a similar controversy involving James Edward Smith’s meal request. While Smith did not request an excessive amount of food, prison authorities denied his unusual “lump of dirt” request.
Years after Brewer’s execution, the public remains unsettled by the stringent regulations surrounding last meal requests for Death Row inmates. Observers speculate that Brewer’s massive food order may have been intended to provoke prison staff, rather than for actual consumption. The excessive food request by Brewer was a turning point for the Death Row system, leading Senator John Whitmire to advocate for the removal of the privilege, asserting that such indulgences were inappropriate for individuals condemned to death.
The decision to eliminate last meal requests for Death Row inmates was justified on the grounds that perpetrators should not receive privileges denied to their victims. Consequently, Texas has not permitted last meal requests since the incident involving Lawrence Brewer.
