LITTLE ROCK (KFSM) — The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday (June 23) the state can execute eight death-row inmates after the inmates argued Arkansas’ execution secrecy law could lead to cruel and unusual punishment.
Arkansas law allows the state to keep information about the drugs used its three-drug execution protocol a secret.
The executions for the eight inmates had been stayed until the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The inmates’ claim comes after a Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge ruled the secrecy provisions were unconstitutional.
The office of Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson released the following statement:
Governor Hutchinson believes Judge [Wendell] Griffin overstepped his authority and is pleased the Arkansas Supreme Court reversed his ruling upholding the law protecting the confidentiality of the supplier.
The Governor is now reviewing the decision and is conferring with the Attorney General about what are the appropriate next steps to take.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge also released a statement:
Today’s decision from the Arkansas Supreme Court reversing the decision from Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen once again shows that Arkansas’s method of execution by lethal injection. It also upholds important confidentiality provisions passed by the General Assembly to protect drug manufacturers and suppliers from intimidation and harassment. As to the state’s next steps, I will notify the Governor once the stays of executions have been lifted so that he may set execution dates. I know that victims’ families want to see justice carried out, and that is exactly what I will continue to work toward as Attorney General.
There are 34 inmates currently on death row in Arkansas. The last execution in the state took place in 2005.
