A lawsuit has led to the release of documents showing that Georgia has spent over $1.1 million on a contractor involved in the state's lethal injection process since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Georgia Department of Corrections has spent an average of more than $150,000 annually on lethal injection-related costs over the past decade—a sharp rise from spending before 2017. The Lethal Injection Secrecy Act, a state law enacted to protect individuals involved in executions, shields their identities from being disclosed, citing the need to prevent harassment by opponents of the death penalty. Initially, the state refused to release records about the lethal injection process, arguing that its secrecy law is essential to protect those involved from public scrutiny and potential harm. However, after a lawsuit, a panel of three judges ordered the release of some documents, revealing the financial commitments made by the state and the measures taken to protect its contractors. Among the documents were records showing payments to contractors, including a check for $170,000 that was redacted, or partially removed, from the public record. The secrecy surrounding lethal injections in Georgia began in the early 2000s when the state moved away from the electric chair to the use of lethal injections. Death penalty opponents pressured pharmaceutical companies to stop selling drugs for executions, leading to a shortage of lethal injection drugs. Georgia turned to a compounding pharmacy, which produces drugs with less regulation and at higher costs. This shift led to increased legal challenges and scrutiny, prompting the state to pass the Lethal Injection Secrecy Act to ensure it could continue obtaining the necessary drugs and personnel. Recent developments include the scheduling of an execution for September 16, which would be Georgia’s first in two years. The state's secrecy laws have made it difficult for defense attorneys to gather information about the lethal injection process, raising concerns about the rights of inmates facing execution. Other states, such as Texas, Indiana, and Arizona, have also spent significant sums on lethal injection drugs obtained from confidential sources. The newly released documents also suggest that Georgia officials may have bypassed their own financial policies, as the Corrections Department typically requires detailed purchase orders, but only provided handwritten checks and minimal documentation. The state’s attorney general has defended the secrecy law, stating that without it, Georgia would be unable to carry out executions.