It doesn't want you to know who will flip the switch, sending a lethal dose of pentobarbital through the veins of death row inmates. And it doesn't want you to know how it obtained that pentobarbital — which isn't available from any legal drug manufacturer — as well. State correction officials have even banned the media from visiting inmates on death row.
But a collection of death row inmates has sued Tennessee to pull back that shroud.
They're not a particularly sympathetic group: 11 murderers, convicted of some of the state's most heinous crimes. Nine already have execution dates scheduled. But they want one simple question answered first: How will the state kill us?
"The people have a right to know that the Department of Corrections isn't torturing citizens using public funds."
The argument is being aired in other states, too: Without knowing exactly who is making the drugs, there's no way to ensure they'll work as intended. And if the drugs don't work as intended, it could amount to cruel and unusual punishment, which is barred by the U.S. Constitution.
Exhibit 1 for that argument is the January execution of Michael Lee Wilson in Oklahoma. His final words, which came about 20 seconds into his execution, were, "I feel my whole body burning," according to the Associated Press.
