Judge: Arizona doesn’t have to reveal execution drug sources
7 years, 6 months ago

Judge: Arizona doesn’t have to reveal execution drug sources

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona does not have to reveal who provides its execution drugs, a judge ruled Thursday in a lawsuit arguing that the information would help the public determine whether the death penalty is carried out humanely and promote confidence in the criminal justice system. U.S. District Judge Murray Snow ruled that the media outlets didn’t show they had a First Amendment right to knowing the suppliers of lethal injection drugs. The judge said the First Amendment protects the right of people to argue about the death penalty, but it doesn’t require Arizona to reveal “protected information to the detriment of the state’s ability to carry out its constitutional, lawfully imposed criminal punishments.” The lawsuit followed the 2014 execution of Joseph Rudolph Wood, who was given 15 doses of a two-drug combination over nearly two hours in what his attorney called a botched execution. The state said a law prohibiting the disclosure of identifying information about anyone serving on an execution team extends the same sort of confidentiality to suppliers of lethal injection drugs.

Death Drugs Arizona State Drug Execution Executions Suppliers Lethal Injection Drugs  drugs  lethal  lawsuit  reveal  doesnt  death  drug  executions  judge  penalty  state  arizona  suppliers  sources  execution

History of this topic

Arizona Executes A Man Who Murdered His Girlfriend's Ex-husband
Trending News
1 week, 3 days ago

Arizona Executes A Man Who Murdered His Girlfriend's Ex-husband

Huff Post  

Aaron Brian Gunches, 53, was lethally injected with pentobarbital at the Arizona State Prison Complex. via Associated Press FLORENCE, Ariz. — An Arizona man who kidnapped and murdered his girlfriend’s ex-husband was executed Wednesday, the second of four prisoners scheduled to be put to death this week in the U.S. Aaron Brian Gunches, 53, was lethally injected with pentobarbital at …

Arizona executes a man who murdered his girlfriend’s ex-husband
1 week, 4 days ago

Arizona executes a man who murdered his girlfriend’s ex-husband

Associated Press  

FLORENCE, Ariz. — An Arizona man who kidnapped and murdered his girlfriend’s ex-husband was executed Wednesday, the second of four prisoners scheduled to be put to death this week in the U.S. Aaron Brian Gunches, 53, was lethally injected with pentobarbital at the Arizona State Prison Complex in the town of Florence, John Barcello, deputy director of Arizona’s department of …

Arizona set to execute first death row prisoner in over two years
1 week, 4 days ago

Arizona set to execute first death row prisoner in over two years

India Today  

An Arizona man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder was scheduled to be executed Wednesday in the state’s first use of the death penalty in more than two years. Late last year, Hobbs fired the retired judge she had appointed to conduct the review, and the state’s corrections department announced changes in the team that lethally injects death row prisoners. …

An Arizona prisoner whose execution is coming up isn’t asking for a reprieve
2 weeks, 6 days ago

An Arizona prisoner whose execution is coming up isn’t asking for a reprieve

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A prisoner scheduled to be executed next week in what would be Arizona’s first use of the death penalty in over two years will not ask for a reprieve from his death sentence. The Arizona Supreme Court issued a death warrant for Gunches nearly two years ago, but the sentence wasn’t carried out because the state’s Democratic attorney …

Arizona GOP lawmakers advance firing squad execution proposal
1 month, 1 week ago

Arizona GOP lawmakers advance firing squad execution proposal

Raw Story  

by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror February 18, 2025 A Republican proposal that would amend the Arizona Constitution to execute prisoners by firing squad instead of lethal injection passed its first hurdle Tuesday. Duncan concluded that, although lethal injection appears to be painless and humane, the reality is that it is “fundamentally unreliable, unworkable and unacceptably prone to errors.” Duncan also …

Arizona to execute first death row inmate in two years
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Arizona to execute first death row inmate in two years

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Arizona will next month …

Court sets March 19 date for first execution in Arizona in over 2 years
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Court sets March 19 date for first execution in Arizona in over 2 years

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court set a March 19 execution date Tuesday for a man who pleaded guilty to murder more than 17 years ago and recently said his death sentence was “long overdue.” It would be the state’s first application of the death penalty in more than two years. The court issued an execution warrant for Aaron Brian …

An Arizona man has been sitting on death row for two decades. He asked to be executed next month
2 months, 3 weeks ago

An Arizona man has been sitting on death row for two decades. He asked to be executed next month

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Aaron Brian Gunches' now hopeful execution would mark …

An Arizona prisoner is asking to be executed sooner than the state wants
2 months, 3 weeks ago

An Arizona prisoner is asking to be executed sooner than the state wants

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — An Arizona death row prisoner asked the state’s highest court to skip legal formalities and schedule his execution earlier than authorities were aiming for, pushing as he had in the past to have his death sentence carried out. In a handwritten court filing this week, Gunches asked the state Supreme Court to schedule his execution for mid-February for …

News groups sue Idaho prison leader for increased witness access to lethal injection executions
3 months, 3 weeks ago

News groups sue Idaho prison leader for increased witness access to lethal injection executions

Associated Press  

BOISE, Idaho — The Associated Press and two other news organizations are suing Idaho’s top prison official for increased access to lethal injection executions, saying the state is unconstitutionally hiding the actual administration of the deadly drugs from public view. The news organizations contend the public has a First Amendment right to witness the entire execution process, including when execution …

Arizona executions to resume, breaking 2-year pause
4 months ago

Arizona executions to resume, breaking 2-year pause

LA Times  

Gen. Kris Mayes said her office has been working with state corrections officials to improve procedures as it prepares to resume use of the death penalty. Mayes said her office had been preparing to resume the use of the death penalty in Arizona since earlier this year as it worked with state corrections officials to review and improve procedures. Katie …

Arizona executions to resume, breaking 2-year pause during review of state death penalty procedures
4 months ago

Arizona executions to resume, breaking 2-year pause during review of state death penalty procedures

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Executions will resume in Arizona following a two-year pause, the state’s top prosecutor says. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Wednesday that she will soon seek an execution warrant for Aaron Brian Gunches, who is on death row after being convicted of killing his girlfriend’s ex-husband. Mayes said her …

The Astonishing Lengths Samuel Alito Will Go to Execute Death Row Inmates
9 months, 2 weeks ago

The Astonishing Lengths Samuel Alito Will Go to Execute Death Row Inmates

Slate  

This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slate’s coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. During oral argument, Justice Samuel Alito, who would end up writing the majority opinion, likened the defendant to “Hannibal Lecter.” Related From Slate This Should Be a Wake-Up Call to the Biden Administration on the Death Penalty Justice Neil Gorsuch, notoriously impatient with …

Botched execution of serial killer in Idaho puts focus on capital punishment secrecy laws
1 year ago

Botched execution of serial killer in Idaho puts focus on capital punishment secrecy laws

Associated Press  

BOISE, Idaho — In 2012, two Idaho prison officials chartered a private plane and flew to Washington state with thousands of dollars in cash. After prison officials said the pharmacist’s exposure had scared away other lethal drug suppliers, Idaho lawmakers barred such information from getting out again. Creech’s execution team comprised volunteers who, according to Idaho execution protocols, were required …

Lawsuit protesting Arizona governor’s refusal to execute prisoner dismissed
1 year, 9 months ago

Lawsuit protesting Arizona governor’s refusal to execute prisoner dismissed

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A lawsuit that alleged Arizona Gov. The lawsuit dismissed Thursday had tried unsuccessfully to force the Democratic governor, who had ordered a review of Arizona’s death penalty protocols because of the state’s history of mismanaged executions, to carry out the execution of Aaron Gunches for his murder conviction in the 2002 killing of Ted Price. Democratic Attorney General …

Arizona governor: scheduled execution is unlikely next week
2 years ago

Arizona governor: scheduled execution is unlikely next week

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A vow by Arizona’s governor not to proceed with any executions amid lingering questions about the rights of death row prisoners appears to have paused a scheduled execution next week, even though it hasn’t officially been called off. In making that seemingly contradictory move, Karen Price’s attorney expressed concern that the state was going let the court order …

Arizona governor won’t proceed with execution set by court
2 years ago

Arizona governor won’t proceed with execution set by court

LA Times  

Katie Hobbs has vowed not to allow an execution that the state Supreme Court scheduled over the objections of the state’s new attorney general. The Democratic governor’s promise Friday not to execute Aaron Gunches on April 6 for a 2002 killing came a day after Arizona’s high court said it must grant an execution warrant if certain appellate proceedings have …

Arizona court OKs execution request that AG tried to undo
2 years ago

Arizona court OKs execution request that AG tried to undo

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court issued a warrant to execute a prisoner even though the state’s new Democratic attorney general tried to withdraw her Republican predecessor’s request to carry out the execution. The decision to schedule the execution of Aaron Gunches came six weeks after Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office said it wasn’t going to seek court orders to …

Retired judge picked to review Arizona’s execution process
2 years, 1 month ago

Retired judge picked to review Arizona’s execution process

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A retired federal magistrate judge was appointed to review the execution process in Arizona as part of an examination ordered by Gov. Katie Hobbs of procurement of lethal injection drugs and other death penalty protocols due to the state’s history of mismanaging executions. While Hobbs didn’t declare a moratorium on the death penalty, Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes …

Top Tennessee prison officials fired after report finds ‘shocking’ issues with death penalty drugs
2 years, 2 months ago

Top Tennessee prison officials fired after report finds ‘shocking’ issues with death penalty drugs

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two top Tennessee corrections …

Arizona executions on hold amid review ordered by governor
2 years, 2 months ago

Arizona executions on hold amid review ordered by governor

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s attorney general has put a hold on executions in the state until the completion of a review of death penalty protocols ordered by the new governor due to the state’s history of mismanaging executions. Katie Hobbs, Arizona’s first Democratic governor since 2009, came as the state’s new Democratic attorney general, Kris Mayes, withdrew her Republican predecessor’s request …

Inmates allege Texas plans to use unsafe execution drugs
2 years, 2 months ago

Inmates allege Texas plans to use unsafe execution drugs

Associated Press  

HOUSTON — Texas plans to use expired and unsafe drugs to carry out executions early this year in violation of state law, three death row inmates allege in a lawsuit. Like other states in recent years, Texas has turned to compounding pharmacies to obtain pentobarbital, which it uses for executions, after traditional drugmakers refused to sell their products to prison …

Racism, gruesome errors, and botched executions: Inside America’s four-person, 48-hour execution spree
2 years, 4 months ago

Racism, gruesome errors, and botched executions: Inside America’s four-person, 48-hour execution spree

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. To make matters worse, Kat Jutras of Death …

Judge keeps Arizona execution plan on track for Wednesday
2 years, 4 months ago

Judge keeps Arizona execution plan on track for Wednesday

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Plans to execute an Arizona man on Wednesday remain on track after a judge refused to postpone the lethal injection, rejecting a bid to allow fingerprint and DNA testing on evidence from two 1980s killings that led to the inmate’s death sentence. U.S. District Judge Stephen McNamee wrote in Monday’s order that the argument by Hooper’s lawyers was …

Arizona death row prisoner’s clemency bid rejected by board
2 years, 4 months ago

Arizona death row prisoner’s clemency bid rejected by board

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s clemency board unanimously declined on Thursday to recommend that the governor commute a man’s death sentence to life in prison, keeping the inmate’s planned execution on track for his conviction in two 1980 killings. The decision by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency marks one of the last steps before Murray Hooper’s scheduled Nov. 16 execution for …

Arizona death row prisoner's clemency bid rejected by board
2 years, 4 months ago

Arizona death row prisoner's clemency bid rejected by board

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The decision by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency …

Lawyers for Arizona inmate facing execution file new appeal
2 years, 4 months ago

Lawyers for Arizona inmate facing execution file new appeal

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Lawyers for an Arizona death row inmate scheduled to be executed on Nov. 16 have filed a new appeal. Murray Hooper’s attorneys filed another petition for post-conviction relief Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court, saying “newly discovered material facts” have been discovered in the case and the 76-year-old inmate should be entitled to a new trial. Hooper and …

Arizona prisoner to die by lethal injection, not gas chamber
2 years, 5 months ago

Arizona prisoner to die by lethal injection, not gas chamber

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — An Arizona prisoner who is scheduled to be executed in three weeks for two 1980 killings will be put to death by lethal injection, making him the third condemned person to decline lethal gas since the state refurbished the chamber where it carried out the last U.S. execution by gas more than 20 years ago. Attorneys for Murray …

Arizona prisoner to die by lethal injection, not gas chamber
2 years, 5 months ago

Arizona prisoner to die by lethal injection, not gas chamber

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An Arizona prisoner who is …

Inmate’s failed testing bid keeps Arizona execution on track
2 years, 5 months ago

Inmate’s failed testing bid keeps Arizona execution on track

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — An execution planned next month for an Arizona prisoner remains on track after a judge rejected the condemned man’s request to have fingerprint and DNA tests conducted on evidence from the two 1980 killings for which he’s scheduled to be put to death. In a decision released Monday, Superior Court Judge Jennifer Green said the evidence implicating Hooper …

Arizona death row inmate seeks forensic tests in 1980 deaths
2 years, 5 months ago

Arizona death row inmate seeks forensic tests in 1980 deaths

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A judge is mulling an Arizona death row prisoner’s request to have fingerprint and DNA tests conducted on evidence from the two 1980 killings for which he is scheduled to be executed next month. Hooper is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection or lethal gas at a prison in Florence, Arizona, on Nov. 16 for the killings …

Judge dismisses lawsuit over upcoming lethal injection
2 years, 5 months ago

Judge dismisses lawsuit over upcoming lethal injection

Associated Press  

MONTGOMERY, Ala — A federal judge dismissed an inmate’s claim seeking to block his upcoming execution in Alabama because of reported problems at a recent lethal injection. But U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. also warned Alabama’s prison commissioner to strictly follow established protocol when officials attempt to put Smith to death next month. Smith’s attorneys pointed to a …

Arizona Supreme Court could issue execution warrant Oct. 12
2 years, 7 months ago

Arizona Supreme Court could issue execution warrant Oct. 12

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court said Wednesday that a warrant of execution for death row inmate Murray Hooper could be issued in two months. A briefing schedule issued by the state’s high court shows the state’s motion for an execution warrant must be filed by the end of the week. If the motion is granted when the court considers …

Tennessee execution pause through 2022 could last longer
2 years, 9 months ago

Tennessee execution pause through 2022 could last longer

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After Tennessee Gov. Many of the problems surfaced as part of challenges of Tennessee’s execution process by two death row inmates in federal court. Those cases are on hold until the investigation ordered by Lee concludes — but in the meantime, the state attorney general’s office acknowledged in a May 6 court filing that there may be …

Oklahoma official seeks execution dates for 25 inmates
2 years, 9 months ago

Oklahoma official seeks execution dates for 25 inmates

Associated Press  

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s attorney general has asked the state’s highest appeals court to set execution dates for 25 death row inmates following a federal judge’s rejection of their challenge to the state’s lethal injection method. In 25 similar filings with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday, Attorney General John O’Connor wrote that the federal court’s stays of …

Judge mulls Arizona prisoner’s request to delay execution
2 years, 9 months ago

Judge mulls Arizona prisoner’s request to delay execution

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A federal judge is considering whether to postpone the execution of an Arizona prisoner who argues the state’s death penalty procedures would violate his rights by subjecting him to unimaginable pain. Two weeks ago, Atwood declined to choose between lethal injection or the gas chamber, leaving him to be put to death by lethal injection, the state’s default …

Board rejects Arizona death-row prisoner’s clemency bid
2 years, 10 months ago

Board rejects Arizona death-row prisoner’s clemency bid

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s clemency board has declined to recommend to Gov. The decision by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency on Tuesday at the state prison in Florence marks one of the last steps before Frank Atwood’s execution in the 1984 killing of Vicki Hoskinson. Board members made the decision after hearing from Hoskinson’s mother, Debbie Carlson, who described her …

Arizona prisoner won’t be executed in gas chamber
2 years, 10 months ago

Arizona prisoner won’t be executed in gas chamber

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — An Arizona prisoner is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in less than three weeks for killing an 8-year-old girl, marking the second condemned man to decline lethal gas since the state refurbished its gas chamber — a method of execution that hasn’t been used in the United States in more than 20 years. Death penalty experts …

Execution ends Arizona 8-year hiatus with the death penalty
2 years, 10 months ago

Execution ends Arizona 8-year hiatus with the death penalty

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s nearly eight-year hiatus in using the death penalty ended with the execution of Clarence Dixon for killing a college student 44 years ago, making him the sixth person to be put to death in the U.S. so far this year. Dixon’s death Wednesday for the 1978 killing of 21-year-old Arizona State University student Deana Bowdoin broke the …

Execution ends Arizona 8-year hiatus with the death penalty
2 years, 10 months ago

Execution ends Arizona 8-year hiatus with the death penalty

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Arizona’s nearly eight-year hiatus in …

Clarence Dixon dies in Arizona’s 1st execution since 2014
2 years, 10 months ago

Clarence Dixon dies in Arizona’s 1st execution since 2014

Associated Press  

FLORENCE, Ariz. — An Arizona man convicted of killing a college student in 1978 was put to death Wednesday after a nearly eight-year hiatus in the state’s use of the death penalty brought on by a nearly two-hour execution that critics say was botched. Clarence Dixon, 66, died by lethal injection at the state prison in Florence for his murder …

Appeals court denies Arizona inmate’s bid to avoid execution
2 years, 10 months ago

Appeals court denies Arizona inmate’s bid to avoid execution

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a request to postpone the planned execution of an Arizona prisoner in what would be the state’s first use of the death penalty in nearly eight years. The Arizona Supreme Court on Monday declined to review a state judge’s decision that rejected Dixon’s arguments, leading his attorneys to introduce similar claims …

Arizona executes first prisoner in nearly eight years after Supreme Court declines to hear case
2 years, 10 months ago

Arizona executes first prisoner in nearly eight years after Supreme Court declines to hear case

LA Times  

Clarence Dixon, who was convicted of murdering a college student in 1978, was executed Wednesday in Arizona. An Arizona man convicted of killing a college student in 1978 was put to death Wednesday after a nearly eight-year hiatus in the state’s use of the death penalty brought on by its last execution, a nearly two-hour episode that critics say was …

Arizona execution on track after court challenges fail
2 years, 10 months ago

Arizona execution on track after court challenges fail

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The planned execution of an Arizona man remained on track Monday after two last-minute court efforts ended without decisions that would sidetrack the state from putting 66-year-old Clarence Dixon to death. In the state Supreme Court action, the high court without comment declined to review last week’s decision from a judge in Pinal County that rejected arguments that …

Judge won’t halt Arizona execution — at least for now
2 years, 10 months ago

Judge won’t halt Arizona execution — at least for now

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A federal judge on Saturday refused to halt an Arizona execution planned for Wednesday after the state provided attorneys for convicted killer Clarence Dixon with documents outlining testing done on the drug it will use, but an additional flurry of last-minute court action could still lead to a delay. Dixon’s attorneys also plan to appeal to the Arizona …

Judge mulls Arizona prisoner’s mental fitness to be executed
2 years, 10 months ago

Judge mulls Arizona prisoner’s mental fitness to be executed

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A judge plans to issue a ruling Tuesday night on a request by an Arizona prisoner to stop his May 11 execution on the grounds that his psychological problems keep him from rationally understanding why the state wants to end his life. Lawyers for Clarence Dixon, who would be the first person executed in Arizona in nearly eight …

Arizona death-row prisoner won’t be executed in gas chamber
2 years, 11 months ago

Arizona death-row prisoner won’t be executed in gas chamber

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A prisoner scheduled to be executed in three weeks in what would be Arizona’s first use of the death penalty in nearly eight years will die by lethal injection and not in the gas chamber — a method that hasn’t been used in the United States in more than two decades. Clarence Dixon declined to pick a method …

Clemency bid denied for Arizona prisoner set for execution
2 years, 11 months ago

Clemency bid denied for Arizona prisoner set for execution

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Arizona’s clemency board has unanimously declined to recommend to Gov. The decision by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency on Thursday marks one of the last steps before Clarence Dixon’s execution in the 1978 killing of Arizona State University student Deana Bowdoin. Before his conviction in Bowdoin’s death, Dixon was serving life sentences for sexual assault and other …

Clemency bid denied for Arizona prisoner set for execution
2 years, 11 months ago

Clemency bid denied for Arizona prisoner set for execution

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The decision by the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency …

Arizona death-row prisoner won’t be executed in gas chamber
2 years, 11 months ago

Arizona death-row prisoner won’t be executed in gas chamber

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A prisoner scheduled to be …

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