State Representative Jody Barrett (R-69) recently sent a letter to Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada demanding answers about the botched execution attempt of Tony Carruthers. The state attempted to execute Mr. Carruthers in May despite the ACLU's continued push for DNA testing that could prove his innocence. The execution team spent more than an hour trying to establish an IV line while Mr. Carruthers groaned in pain before Governor Lee issued a one-year reprieve.

Barrett's letter raises the same questions ACLU has pressed since that day. In his July 1 letter, the State Representative gives Commissioner Strada until July 20 to explain what went wrong, what recent changes have been implemented, and why Tennesseans should trust the department to carry out the execution of Darrell Hines, scheduled for August 13. Barrett writes that "public confidence cannot exist without public accountability." Read the full letter here.