Statements from ACLU of Oklahoma in Response to New Oklahoma Execution Protocol

October 1, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following yesterday’s announcement

The following is attributable to Ryan Kiesel, ACLU of Oklahoma Executive Director:

The new execution protocols are a slap in Oklahoma’s face. The government took a process already corrupted by secrecy and made it even more difficult for the public to know anything about it. Director Patton and Governor Fallin may not understand what “accountability” means, but the people of Oklahoma do. The ACLU of Oklahoma will continue its fight to ensure the people are able to exercise that right.

The following response is attributable to Brady Henderson, ACLU of Oklahoma Legal Director:

The new protocols feature a glaring attempt to escape public accountability and erect new walls of secrecy surrounding Oklahoma’s dysfunctional execution process. It is appalling that when the need for government transparency is at its greatest, our government’s response is to run and hide. The doubts expressed recently by the federal court as to whether Oklahoma could be ready for its next scheduled executions are no longer in question--the state is not ready, nor will it ever be ready so long as those charged with carrying out this ultimate exercise of government power lack the basic courage or maturity to bear the public responsibility that comes with their power. The new protocols were an opportunity for the state to clean up a corrupted process, and instead our government chose to reach for the nearest broom and rug.