Ninth Circuit finds First Amendment right to information on Arizona executions using lethal injection

A panel of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Arizona erred in withholding information about lethal injection drugs from a man slated for execution. The ruling contravened other recent court rulings upholding secrecy on executions using lethal drugs. In a 2-1 decision, the Court found a First Amendment right to know the details of what the majority opinion said concerned an important current debate over the use of the drugs and their safety and reliability. (The New York Times, July 20, 2014, by Erik Eckholm)

The inmate bringing the suit claimed a right to petition the government for redress of grievances under the First Amendment and a right to information. In ruling for the inmate the Court mentioned three botched executions two in Oklahoma and one in Ohio. (Talk Left, July 20, 2014, by Jeralyn)

The dissenting judge argued that disclosing certain information prevented the state from carrying out its legally established mandates and would not yield significant benefits. (USA Today, July 19, 2014, by Michael Kiefer, Arizona Republic)