Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, and eight other lawmakers attend a rally on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse in support of Morris’ proposal to alter or abolish the death penalty in Indiana. Photo by Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Casey Smith
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Mike Braun suggested Monday, Feb. 3 he could reverse the previous administration’s unwillingness to disclose how much the state paid to acquire the drug used to execute convicted killer Joseph Corcoran.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle sued the Indiana Department of Correction Tuesday, Jan. 21 amid a months-long battle to seek taxpayer dollars spent on the execution drug, pentobarbital.

Before that, the law was broadly applied by DOC and former Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office to shield details about how the state obtained the drug. The law specifically bars release of the name, address or tax identifier. But cost is not included.

In a new statement, however, Braun’s team said the governor has now “directed his legal team to evaluate how to provide the greatest level of transparency under current law in hopes of resolving the current lawsuit.”

That came ahead of an afternoon rally Monday, Feb. 3 at the Statehouse centered around House Bill 1030 — which seeks to abolish the death penalty altogether in Indiana. The bill author, Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, and numerous advocacy groups are expected to speak.

The author, Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, said he hopes to scale back the bill to address the efficacy of execution drugs before they can be used, and alter rules around who can administer life-ending drugs and witness executions. Narrowing the proposal could give it a better chance at advancing through the legislative process.

He pointed out, too, that in states without the death penalty, “the reality is, crime is still happening.”

So far, the bill has yet to get a hearing in the House courts committee where it’s been assigned. Morris said he’s speaking and working with House leadership — as well as committee chairwoman Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville — to get the bill or relevant language into favorable form.

Death Penalty Bill Gaining Traction

Ahead of Joseph Corcoran’s Dec. 18 execution at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Morris called on Holcomb to block that execution and death sentences for Indiana’s seven other death row inmates. The representative insisted then — and again on Monday — that “human life is sacred.”

Morris said he was particularly moved by a call he received from Corcoran’s sister, who offered a unique perspective — she was the inmate’s family, but also a victim. Corcoran killed her brother and fiancé.

“She said, ‘Now the state of Indiana has ruined my Christmas forever,’” Morris recalled.

The convicted killer made repeated requests for his execution to be carried out, and he consistently rebuffed his legal team’s attempts to challenge the death sentence. Corcoran’s guilt was not in question, but his long-term mental illness was at the heart of efforts to block the execution.

Of his “greatest concerns,” though, are the DOC employees tasked with carrying out executions or prisoners who “they spend many hours with — making sure they’re fed, and housed in appropriate conditions.”

Among his anticipated amendments is one to prohibit state employees — like DOC staff — from being involved in future executions.

Targeting Execution Drugs

The Republican lawmaker said he’s also looking to advance bill language to further regulate Indiana’s execution drug protocols.

Experts and advocates note, for example, pentobarbital can expire and should not be used if the drug isn’t stored at a proper temperature.

Many of the documented botched executions in recent years have occurred because the drugs being used had expired, were contaminated, or they were administered “incorrectly,” according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Indiana officials have refused to say how much additional pentobarbital the state has in storage or when it’s set to expire.

A pending amendment Morris offered on a separate bill seeks to require that Indiana State Police test pentobarbital between 12 and 24 hours before an execution to ensure the substance is “100% effective” before it’s administered.

Also up for debate is the “very small” witness room to the execution chamber that gives only four or five people “limited” access to watch an execution through a one-way window.

Corcoran and his legal team allowed a reporter from the Indiana Capital Chronicle to witness the execution at the state prison. No other media were permitted to be present, per state law.

Morris said he’s exploring options to increase transparency around the execution chamber.

“If we’re really trying to teach an example to our youth and to others to stop doing these crimes, why are we not doing these executions in a stadium like Lucas Oil Stadium so everyone can see the person get executed, and everyone can learn an example?” he asked. “The reality is, executions don’t stop these heinous crimes.”

Morris was joined Monday by eight other legislators, including Democrats and Republicans from both caucuses.

In a letter penned by Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, on behalf of the House Democrats, she said Morris’ bill “will realign our state’s commitment to the pursuit of justice.”