(The Center Square) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is asking for the process to move forward in seeking a death warrant for convicted murderer Aaron Gunches.
Mayes asked the Arizona Supreme Court to create a “briefing schedule” to lay the groundwork for filing the warrant.
“This is not a decision that I have made lightly, but the death penalty is the law in our state, and it is my job to uphold it,” Mayes stated on Friday. “The family of Ted Price has waited for over 22 to years for justice in this case, and I am committed to ensuring that justice is served.”
The state government was given the green light to resume executions in 2025 after Gov. Katie Hobbs scrapped the special investigation done into “botched” past executions. She instead opted for a report through the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry on improving the practice of lethal injection.
“The Governor remains committed to upholding the law while ensuring justice is carried out in a way that’s transparent and humane,” a Hobbs spokesperson said last month. “ADCRR has conducted a thorough review of policies and procedures and made critical improvements to help ensure executions carried out by the State meet legal and constitutional standards.
Hobbs called for the “independent review” last year, but disagreed with the findings –that were not completed – by retired federal magistrate judge David Duncan. He reportedly suggested that using a firing squad would be a better alternative than injections, according to Arizona’s Family.
“This Court previously issued a warrant of execution in this case on March 2, 2023,” the Motion for Warrant of Execution states. “However, because the State had elected to undertake a review of its execution processes and protocols, that warrant lapsed. Now, however, the State’s review of its execution procedures is complete and the State is prepared to carry out Gunches’ execution.”
