Boise, Idaho – A federal magistrate judge is expected to listen to arguments on Tuesday morning in a lawsuit filed by three news organizations that say that Idaho prison officials are unconstitutionally hide lethal injection parts Executions from public hearing.
Associated Press, East Idaho News and Idaho statesman filed the lawsuit against the IDAHO correction department in December. They ask the Judge Magistrada Debora K. Grasham to temporarily prevents the state from restricting witnesses of the media. injection of lethal chemicals In any execution that may occur before the demand is resolved.
Prison officials say there are important security reasons to keep some details, such as the source and type of lethal injection drugs and the identities of members of the execution team.
The former Director of the Idaho Correction Department, Josh Tewalt and other prison officials, told the legislators in the past that anything that threatens the confidentiality of the members of the execution team or the source of the state execution drugs could put at risk the ability of Idaho to carry out the capital punishment, in part, it would be difficult to find qualified volunteers willing to put someone to death.
But news organizations argue that the public has the right of the first amendment to witness the entire execution process, even when members of the execution team promote lethal injection medications in lines IV related to a convicted person. Idaho prison officials have maintained that part of the hidden execution behind the screens or walls in each of the three executions completed in the last 50 years.
Witnesses of the media can already see other members of the execution team, although their identities are hidden by medical masks and head coverage.
Idaho has tried four lethal injection executions since the 1970s. Three of them were completed, but the most recent attempt, which involved Thomas Eugene Creech, was aborted last year After the execution, the team members could not successfully establish an IV line after eight attempts in Creech’s arms and legs.
Legislators approved a new law this year that will squadrons The main method of execution of the State, starting next year.
