Judge ruling could expose who sells execution drugs to Arkansas

An Arkansas judge has struck a law from the books that allowed the state to keep secret where it gets execution drugs from.

The change means pharmaceutical companies who sold life-ending drugs to executioners without the public's knowledge may soon be exposed, writes Claudia Lauer.

The judge also ordered the state to disclose drug details, including the makers and suppliers, by noon Friday.

"It is common knowledge that capital punishment is not universally popular," Griffen wrote. "That reality is not a legitimate reason to shield the entities that manufacture, supply, distribute, and sell lethal injection drugs from public knowledge." Judd Deere, a spokesman for Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, said late Thursday that the office had filed notice of appeal with the state Supreme Court. Rutledge also asked for an immediate stay of Griffen's order.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is angry about the ruling because the execution drug suppliers were "assured confidentiality."