The Associated Press and four other media organizations have filed a federal lawsuit challenging an Indiana law that bars journalists from witnessing executions.
The suit argues that excluding media from the execution of Benjamin Ritchie, scheduled for May 20, violates the First Amendment and deprives the public of an independent account of how the death penalty is carried out. Kristopher Cundiff of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said, “It’s about having a representative standing in the shoes of the public to provide an account of what happened that comes from a neutral party.”
Indiana is one of only two states that prohibit media access to executions. The law permits attendance by victims’ family members and people selected by the condemned but excludes journalists.
Plaintiffs argue this unequal treatment undermines transparency and fails to meet constitutional standards. The AP, which has long reported on executions nationwide, says its ability to provide accurate coverage is hindered by this restriction.
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