The Missouri Department of Corrections stalled and delayed rather than release public records that would expose its plans to pioneer the use of the drug propofol in executions — and now the state will need to pay for its recalcitrance.That's according to a ruling issued yesterday by Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce, who ruled that the state's failure to follow its own Sunshine Law was purposeful. Joyce then slapped the state with a $2,500 fine.
“The Missouri Department of Corrections violated the public’s trust, in both its plan to use questionably obtained drugs and by purposefully violating the Sunshine Law to cover up its scheme,” said Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri, in a prepared statement.
On August 26, 2013, the ACLU had requested information related to the Department of Corrections' inventory of propofol, its source and its packaging, labeling and instructions.…