By Michael Kiefer | AZ Mirror
Execution by lethal injection is set in Arizona law. How many state and federal laws are broken while carrying it out is the subject of two new friend-of-the-court briefs filed last week in the case of Aaron Gunches, who faces imminent execution.
Gunches, who killed a man in 2002, has petitioned the state to execute him after more than 20 years on death row. The state is willing to oblige him and has applied to the Arizona Supreme Court for a death warrant. The high court will decide whether to issue one on Feb. 11, and, if it does, Gunches would be executed March 18.
In all, three amicus briefs have been filed by outside parties arguing why Gunches should not be executed — at least not using the controversial drug supply that has sat in unmarked jars in an Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry refrigerator since 2020.
