NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Attorneys for the state will try to convince Tennessee’s Supreme Court justices that they should not be forced to turn over the names of executioners to the attorneys for the state’s 11 death row inmates.
Attorneys for the inmates say they need the names in order to determine whether the people charged with carrying out executions are qualified. If they aren't, it would benefit the inmates' lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Tennessee's lethal injection and electrocution procedures.
But attorneys for the state say the names are confidential. They’tre willing to turn over information about the workers' qualifications, but not their identities. To do so would give the inmates supervisory authority over their executions, the attorneys argue in court papers.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case Thursday.