Update:
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Texas prison officials will challenge a judge’s order that they tell attorneys for two condemned inmates who is supplying the state with legal injection drugs. They argue that execution drug suppliers should be protected because of threats. The prison agency lost its previous supplier after the compound pharmacy’s name was made public.
Original story:
HOUSTON (AP) _ A state judge has ordered the Texas prison agency to disclose to attorneys for two inmates its supplier of a new batch of execution drugs.
The ruling Thursday in Austin comes one day after attorneys for two death row inmates filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice seeking the information. It was not immediately clear if the agency would comply or appeal the ruling.
The prison agency lost its previous supplier last year after the compound pharmacy’s name was made public and it received threats. Prison officials contend the identity of the new drug source should be withheld to protect the new supplier.
The lawsuit against the state agency contends the prisoners cannot evaluate the risk that could result in them being subjected to unconstitutionally cruel pain.