Tennessee Supreme Court Says Executioners’ Names To Remain Private

Tennessee does not have to reveal the names of people involved in its executions, according to a state Supreme Court ruling announced Tuesday.

Lawyers for death row inmates asked the state to release the identities of the physicians, pharmacists and executioners involved with lethal injection. A lower court agreed, but Tennessee’s highest court reversed that decision.

The fight over identities is part of a larger case challenging use of lethal injection, saying it’s cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court contends those names are not relevant to that lawsuit.

Now, the case goes back to the lower court in Nashville, where the lethal injection protocol trial will start in the next few months.