Jefferson City, MO (KTRS)  Missouri must reveal the source of the drug it uses to execute prisoners.

That’s according to a ruling this week by  Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem. This stemmed from a lawsuit filed by media organizations, including the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Associated Press, seeking to uncover more information about Missouri’s execution system.

Missouri has declined for several years to say where it obtains the execution drug pentobarbital. The state has claimed the source could be withheld under an exemption to the Missouri Sunshine Law.

A lawyer for the media organizations says he hopes the ruling ends litigation costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

The ruling won’t go into effect until all appeals are exhausted.  A spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster  says the ruling is under review and declined to say whether there would be an appeal.