About the Case
MFIA’s clients—the Guardian, AP, and four local news outlets— filed suit in federal court against the Arizona Department of Corrections, asserting a First Amendment right of access to critical information about the source, composition, and quality of the drugs used in lethal injections and the qualifications of those who administer them. MFIA filed the complaint in October 2014, completed two rounds of discovery and submitted four expert reports, and submitted a motion for summary judgment. We are now awaiting a decision by the court.
If MFIA is successful, this case could constitute a significant development in the law on the constitutional right of access to official proceedings and contribute a great deal to the public’s understanding of the death penalty.