Judge orders Arkansas to disclose source of execution drugs

LITTLE ROCK — A judge has ordered Arkansas to release information about its execution drug supplier to attorneys for death row inmates who are challenging the state's execution secrecy law.

The order was issued Monday by Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen. The judge agreed late Friday to temporarily halt executions for eight inmates who were scheduled for lethal injections in the next four months.

The Monday ruling orders the state to "identify or otherwise object to disclosure" of the manufacturers, distributor, seller or supplier of Arkansas' three lethal injections drugs. The order gives the state until Oct. 21 to turn over the package inserts, shipping labels, laboratory test results and other information.

Arkansas is among a handful of states with laws that allow prison officials to withhold information about execution drugs.

Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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