Tennessee judge grants expanded media access to state-run executionsA judge has ruled that Tennessee prison officials must grant expanded access to media members to view state-run executionsByADRIAN SAINZ Associated PressJanuary 16, 2026, 7:59 PMA judge ruled Friday that Tennessee prison officials must grant expanded access to media members to view state-run executions, after a coalition of news organizations including The Associated Press sued on claims that state execution protocols unconstitutionally limit thorough and accurate reporting. Before Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles' order, reporters witnessing lethal injections were limited to a short time period during which they could view the execution process. The coalition's lawsuit argued the protocols violate the public and press’s constitutional rights to witness the entirety of executions conducted by the Tennessee Department of Correction, "from the time the condemned enters the execution chamber until after the condemned is declared dead.” The lawsuit sought a judgment that the protocols are unconstitutional and an injunction to allow the press to see the full execution process.
