A judge presiding over a lawsuit that protests the way Arizona carries out the death penalty has told lawyers to be prepared later this month to reveal the status of the state's supplies of lethal-injection drugs.
U.S. District Judge Neil Wake says attorneys in the case also should be prepared at the June 29 hearing to discuss whether there are any issues to litigate in the lawsuit if execution drugs aren't currently available in Arizona.
Nearly a month ago, the judge ruled that condemned prisoners could press forward with the lawsuit.
The suit comes as the state has faced difficulties in obtaining drugs for executions.
Executions in Arizona are on hold until the lawsuit is resolved.
The lawsuit seeks more transparency in the state's execution process.
