A Seventh Circuit panel on Friday upheld an Indiana law disallowing media access to witness state executions, finding the First Amendment does not guarantee special access to press.
“Journalists remain free to interview witnesses, report on any aspect of the proceeding and comment as they wish on the state’s choice to allow capital punishment or to execute a particular person,” U.S. District Judge Michael Scudder, a Donald Trump appointee, wrote for the 2-1 majority.
Indiana law limits execution attendees to the state prison warden, those assisting in the execution, the prison physician, one other physician, the incarcerated person’s spiritual advisor, the prison chaplain, up to eight immediate adult family members and up to five unspecified others.
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