[4] During his imprisonment, Holton became an amateur legal expert, and he took steps to ignore the automatic and voluntary appeals process afforded to all condemned men and women under state and U.S. law.

He also declined to cooperate with the federally or state-appointed capital defenders who sought to offer him legal assistance and counsel.

"[5] Holton chose to die in the electric chair, rather than by lethal injection, which is now the standard method of execution in Tennessee.

Moments before his execution, prison warden Ricky Bell asked Holton if he had any final words.

[clarification needed] Holton, his motives, and the ethics of his execution are examined in the 2008 documentary film Robert Blecker Wants Me Dead.