LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas' attorney general says in a court filing that any movement condemned inmates showed during their executions last year were involuntary and don't indicate that they experienced any pain during their lethal injections.
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge asked a federal judge Thursday to dismiss an amended lawsuit by a group of death row inmates challenging Arkansas' lethal injection process.
The inmates last month asked to amend their lawsuit, saying the state's execution of four men last year highlighted the problems with the injection procedure.
The inmates have argued the use of the sedative midazolam can cause excruciating pain because it won't render them unconscious before two other drugs stopped their lungs and hearts.
The state says that involuntary movements are known side effects of the lethal injection drugs.