Idaho executions have been halted until prison officials allow the media to view the entire lethal injection process, including drug preparation, according to a federal judge’s ruling that upholds crucial First Amendment rights.
At a Glance
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora Grasham issued a preliminary injunction blocking all Idaho executions until the state increases media access to the entire execution process
- The ruling requires Idaho Department of Correction to allow media to observe the preparation and administration of lethal injection drugs
- Three news outlets, including the Associated Press and Idaho Statesman, sued the state for greater transparency in executions
- Idaho has conducted only four lethal injections since the 1970s, with the most recent execution in 2012
- A new law will make firing squads Idaho’s primary execution method starting in July 2026
Court Rules Media Must See Entire Execution Process
A federal judge has ruled that Idaho prison officials must allow media witnesses to observe every step of the lethal injection process during executions, including the preparation and administration of the drugs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora Grasham issued a preliminary injunction that effectively halts all executions in the state until the Department of Correction provides this expanded access. The ruling came in response to a First Amendment lawsuit filed by a coalition of news organizations, including The Associated Press, The Idaho Statesman, and East Idaho News.
The judge emphasized the historical openness of executions in the United States and found that Idaho’s current protocols unconstitutionally hide key parts of the process from public view. Idaho has conducted only four lethal injections since the 1970s, with no executions since June 2012. The state’s most recent attempt to execute death row inmate Thomas Creech in February was aborted when medical staff couldn’t find a suitable vein for the IV line.
First Amendment Rights Take Precedence
Judge Grasham’s ruling strongly underscored the public’s right to witness how the state carries out its most severe punishment. The state had argued that allowing media to view the drug preparation would place an undue burden on execution teams and potentially reveal the identities of medical volunteers. However, the judge found these concerns insufficient to override First Amendment protections, noting that media witnesses serve as surrogates for the public in observing this governmental function.
In her ruling, Judge Grasham specifically addressed the crucial nature of witnessing the drug administration process, writing: “This Court finds it difficult to identify any aspect of an execution by lethal injection that is more ‘inextricably intertwined’ with the execution than the actual preparation and administration of the lethal injection drugs into the IV lines connected to the condemned individual.” The decision aims to ensure that the public can make informed policy decisions about capital punishment.
Changes to Idaho’s Execution Methods
The ruling comes as Idaho prepares for significant changes to its execution protocols. The Idaho Legislature recently passed a bill making firing squads the primary execution method starting in July 2026, with lethal injection retained as a backup option. This change will make Idaho the only state to prefer firing squads as its primary execution method. The renovation for a firing squad execution chamber is expected to cost nearly $1 million and take approximately nine months to complete.
This isn’t the first time news organizations have sued for increased access to Idaho executions. A similar case in 2012 led to improved transparency in the state’s execution protocols. The current ruling does not pass judgment on the death penalty itself but focuses solely on ensuring constitutional rights to public access are maintained. Currently, twenty-seven states authorize capital punishment, with varying levels of media access to execution proceedings.
