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 mental illness made Dixon unable to understand why he was being put to death. At a Monday morning hearing to consider that claim, U.S. District Court Judge Diane Humetewa said she “struggled” to see how the argument raised a valid constitutional issue in light of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that said courts should not meddle in the details of state lethal injection decisions. But she acknowledged that if the state is able to mix the new batch and get it tested before the scheduled 10 a.m. Wednesday execution “that resolves the outstanding issues in this case.” That happened Monday evening, when Humetewa called court back into session and Moreno and Assistant Arizona Attorney General Jeff Sparks told her they had agreed that using a new batch would end the litigation.

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History of this topic

Arizona executes a man who murdered his girlfriend’s ex-husband
1 week, 3 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, 3 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. …

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 …

Tennessee has a new execution method, 2.5 years after last scheduled execution abruptly halted
3 months ago

Tennessee has a new execution method, 2.5 years after last scheduled execution abruptly halted

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — More than 2 years after Tennessee abruptly halted the execution of inmate Oscar Smith — admitting that correction officials were not following their own execution protocols — the state has announced a new method that could allow it to resume executions halted since May 2022. The Tennessee Department of Correction announced in a brief statement Friday it …

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 …

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 judge skeptical of suit seeking to execute prisoner
1 year, 11 months ago

Arizona judge skeptical of suit seeking to execute prisoner

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A judge expressed skepticism about whether he can order any changes in response to a lawsuit against Arizona Gov. Superior Court Judge Frank Moskowitz agreed to let attorneys brief their arguments in the coming weeks, but he also said he’s not sure what he has the power to do — since the Arizona Supreme Court order authorizing the …

Arizona Supreme Court rejects bid to reschedule execution
1 year, 11 months ago

Arizona Supreme Court rejects bid to reschedule 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. In late March, the state Supreme Court rejected a …

Arizona Supreme Court rejects bid to reschedule execution
1 year, 11 months ago

Arizona Supreme Court rejects bid to reschedule execution

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court declined Wednesday to reschedule an execution initially set for this week that looked unlikely to be carried out after Gov. In late March, the state Supreme Court rejected a request from Price’s sister, Karen Price, to order Hobbs to carry out the execution. The corrections department said the warrant of execution issued by the …

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 …

Court: Arizona governor not required to carry out execution
2 years ago

Court: Arizona governor not required to carry out execution

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that state law doesn’t require Gov. The decision issued Wednesday marks a legal victory for the newly elected Democratic governor whose office said the state isn’t currently prepared to carry out the death penalty. The governor vowed two weeks ago that she wouldn’t carry out the court’s order while the state reviews …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Arizona Executes 1st Incarcerated Man In Nearly 8 Years
2 years, 10 months ago

Arizona Executes 1st Incarcerated Man In Nearly 8 Years

Huff Post  

Clarence Dixon, 66, was sentenced to death in the 1977 killing of Deana Bowdoin, a 21-year-old Arizona State University senior, in Arizona. Arizona Department of Corrections via AP 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 …

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 …

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: Arizona prisoner psychologically fit to be executed
2 years, 10 months ago

Judge: Arizona prisoner psychologically fit to be executed

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — A judge has ruled that an Arizona prisoner convicted in the 1978 killing of a university student is mentally fit to be put to death next week, keeping on track what would be the first execution in the state in nearly eight years. In a ruling signed shortly before midnight Tuesday and released on Wednesday, Pinal County Superior …

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, 10 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, 10 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 …

AG wants death-row prisoner’s mental fitness exam called off
2 years, 11 months ago

AG wants death-row prisoner’s mental fitness exam called off

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Prosecutors have asked the Arizona Supreme Court to call off an upcoming hearing scheduled by a lower-court judge to determine the mental fitness of a prisoner to be executed in what would be the state’s first use of the death penalty in nearly eight years. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office told the state’s highest court in a …

Arizona Supreme Court urged to call off death row inmate’s mental competency exam
2 years, 11 months ago

Arizona Supreme Court urged to call off death row inmate’s mental competency exam

LA Times  

Prosecutors have asked the Arizona Supreme Court to call off an upcoming hearing scheduled by a lower-court judge to determine the mental fitness of a prisoner to be executed in what would be the state’s first use of the death penalty in nearly eight years. Gen. Mark Brnovich’s office told the state’s highest court in a filing Wednesday that the …

Lawyers for prisoner say he’s mentally unfit to be executed
2 years, 11 months ago

Lawyers for prisoner say he’s mentally unfit to be executed

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Attorneys for a prisoner scheduled to become the first person to be executed in Arizona in nearly eight years are making another bid to try to stop his execution, arguing their client’s psychological problems keep him from rationally understanding why the state wants to end his life. In an order Friday, a Pinal County judge concluded defense lawyers …

Arizona schedules its first execution in nearly eight years for 11 May
2 years, 11 months ago

Arizona schedules its first execution in nearly eight years for 11 May

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 The Arizona Supreme Court issued …

1st execution in Arizona in nearly 8 years set for May 11
2 years, 11 months ago

1st execution in Arizona in nearly 8 years set for May 11

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court issued an execution warrant Thursday for a death-row prisoner in what would be the state’s first use of the death penalty in nearly eight years. About a year ago, prosecutors took steps to seek the executions of Dixon and Frank Atwood, a death row prisoner in an unrelated case, but the litigation was put …

Hearing set for Mississippi inmate who sought execution date
3 years ago

Hearing set for Mississippi inmate who sought execution date

Associated Press  

— A Mississippi judge will hold a hearing next month to determine if a death row inmate truly wants to request an execution date and if the inmate is mentally competent to waive appeals in the case. In court papers filed Monday, a special assistant state attorney general said the hearing for Blayde Nathaniel Grayson is scheduled for April 7 …

Arizona seeks to resume executions after 7-year hiatus
3 years, 1 month ago

Arizona seeks to resume executions after 7-year hiatus

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — Prosecutors on Thursday asked the Arizona Supreme Court to issue an execution warrant for a convicted killer that if carried out would be the state’s first use of the death penalty in seven years. Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s office filed the request for a warrant of execution against Clarence Dixon, who was convicted and sentenced to death in …

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