Arkansas Not Required to Reveal Lethal Injection Drug Supplier

The Arkansas Supreme Court found that inmates have no constitutional right to require the state to disclose the source of the drugs used in lethal injections

Kelley v. Johnson, 2016 BL 203211, Ark., No. CV-15-992, 6/23/16.

   In a case from Arkansas, the state Supreme Court found that there was no constitutional right for inmates “to know” the source of the drug used in their future lethal injection executions. The prisoners argued that a more humane alternative, such as firing squad, existed, which would make death by lethal injection a violation of the Eight Amendment. The court rejected these arguments, noting that neither disclosing the supplier would “positively enhance the functioning of executions in Arkansas” and that there were no viable alternatives in operation that would be feasible, readily implemented, and would be cause less pain and suffering than lethal injection.

http://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/document/Kelley_v_Johnson_2016_Ark_268_Court_Opinion.