Witnesses at Idaho executions are required to be allowed to observe the process of preparing and administering lethal drugs, as ruled by a federal judge.
In a bid to address transparency issues and public scrutiny, the state of Idaho has designated the firing squad as its primary method of execution, with lethal injection as a secondary option, starting around 2026 [1]. This shift comes amidst criticisms and legal challenges about the secrecy surrounding lethal injection methods, particularly concerning drug preparation.
The move towards firing squad executions is partly driven by the difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs and the opaque nature of these executions. A key transparency issue arose when a federal judge, Debora K. Grasham, barred Idaho from conducting executions until the state improved media access [1]. The judge emphasized the significant public interest in upholding First Amendment rights by allowing reporters to witness critical execution stages, such as drug preparation in lethal injections.
This ruling followed lawsuits by news outlets, including Our Website, The Idaho Statesman, and East Idaho News, alleging they were denied access, highlighting the problem with lethal injection transparency. With the firing squad set as the primary method, Idaho aims to comply with new laws ensuring executions can proceed with better adherence to public and media access requirements [1].
The firing squad executions in Idaho are being introduced with a push towards greater transparency and media access compared to lethal injection methods, which have faced significant scrutiny for their secretive practices. While media witnesses can currently watch as a condemned person is brought into the execution chamber, placed on a gurney, and has the IV inserted and attached to medical tubing, the actual preparation and administration of the deadly chemicals is done in a separate part of the facility, and this process has always been hidden from view.
However, detailed procedures about public access during firing squad executions are still being implemented as of mid-2025. The Idaho Department of Correction has been ordered to provide audio and visual access for executions, a significant step towards increased transparency.
While the focus is on Idaho's shift towards firing squad executions, it's crucial to note that twenty-seven states authorize the death penalty, though some have paused executions or do not have anyone on death row. The most recent aborted execution involved Thomas Eugene Creech, who could not be successfully injected after eight attempts in his arms and legs.
The push for transparency and media access in executions is not unique to Idaho. Our Website and other news organizations have previously sued Idaho officials to increase execution access. Grasham's ruling does not make a policy judgment about the death penalty but aims to safeguard the public's First Amendment right of access to executions.
[1] Sources: Idaho Statesman, East Idaho News, and Court Documents.
- The shift towards firing squad executions in Idaho, influenced by the challenges in obtaining lethal injection drugs and concerns about execution secrecy, aligns with a push for greater policy-and-legislation regarding media access.
- With the Idaho Department of Correction ordered to provide audio and visual access for executions, the state aims to comply with new laws, ensuring a more transparent media-and-politics environment during firing squad executions.
