In a landmark 4-3 decision the state Supreme Court held that Georgia's electric chair violated the state's constitution by inflicting "physical violence..." on the victim, thereby violating the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the document. As of this date only Alabama and Nebraska continue to use this means of execution. The state had anticipated such a ruling, passing a law that enabled lethal injection as an alternative method of execution. The electric chair has been in use since it replaced hanging as the means of execution in 1924. During that time period 441 people were electrocuted.