Executions to resume in Arizona

Executions in Arizona will continue next year after Gov. Katie Hobbs removed the special reviewer tasked to look into issues with the practice, Capitol Media Services reported.

Executions were stopped in 2022 following issues with the practice being “botched.” The governor let go of retired federal magistrate judge David Duncan, who was examining problems with the execution process, and she is instead opting to go with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Re-entry’s conclusions on how to best improve executions going forward, according to the report. Capitol Media Services added that the governor disagreed with how the review was being conducted, despite calling Duncan in for the “independent review” early last year.

This will clear the way for inmate Aaron Gunches, who’s on death row for murder, to likely be executed in the coming weeks after Attorney General Kris Mayes obtains the proper warrant, the outlet reported.

The decision to bring back enforcement of the death penalty was praised by some in the state.

“County Attorney [Rachel Mitchell] has been fighting [Hobbs] and [Mayes] on the death penalty for the past two years,” Brandon Hiller, Chief of Staff for Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, tweeted. “Glad to see them finally get on the sides of victims when they will both be vigorously trying to save their political careers in 2026.”

The Center Square reported in May that Mitchell sought a death warrant for Gunches, who was set to be executed last year.

“To that end, I intend to begin seeking warrants no later than the first quarter of 2025, so long as ADCRR is capable of carrying out a lawful execution at that time,” Mitchell wrote at the time. “By then, I anticipate that Judge Duncan will have completed his independent review and that ADCRR will have had sufficient time to make any appropriate improvements to their procedures for carrying out the death penalty.”

Executions occur at the state prison in Florence, and there are 111 individuals facing the death penalty in Arizona.

The Center Square reached out to the governor’s office and attorney general’s office for comment, but neither responded in time for publication.