information on death penalty cases is accessible to civil society, oversight bodies, and the public. This responsibility extends beyond individual cases to advocating for greater institutional accountability and reform. The secrecy surrounding capital punishment often enables procedural violations, unfair trials, and arbitrary application of the death penalty. Lawyers are uniquely positioned to document, analyse, and disclose critical information regarding state practices in capital cases, including deficiencies in legal representation, coercive law enforcement tactics, and inconsistencies in clemency and sentencing decisions. Where permitted by professional ethics and client consent, lawyers should work in collaboration with civil society organisations, independent oversight bodies, and international mechanisms to highlight these concerns and push for systemic reforms. Lawyers should also advocate for greater transparency in state decision-making processes, including the publication of sentencing data, clemency decisions, execution procedures, and prison conditions. This is particularly crucial in jurisdictions where capital punishment is applied in secrecy, preventing meaningful public scrutiny and denying the defendant a fair and dignified legal process. By strengthening transparency and fostering public awareness, lawyers help expose patterns of injustice, hold institutions accountable, and contribute to long-term efforts to safeguard due process and human rights protection in death penalty cases. March 2025 7