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Arkansas Inmates Ask For Ruling On Death Penalty Law

Attorneys challenging Arkansas' execution secrecy law are asking a judge to rule on their constitutional concerns before ruling on whether to issue a protective order to shield the drug makers' identity.

The attorneys for nine death row inmates filed the motion Monday in Pulaski County Circuit Court.

Arkansas officials last week asked Judge Wendell Griffen to issue a protective order shielding the state from releasing the drug information or limiting the disclosure to the inmates' attorneys.

Griffen issued an order this month telling the state to turn over the drug information or ask for the protective order.

The inmates are challenging the state's secrecy law, saying it could lead to cruel and unusual punishment. The executions of eight of the inmates have been delayed pending the resolution of that challenge.

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