state claimed in March that it lacked the personnel and expertise to carry out executions because of the turnover in administrations after the appointment.
Jimmy Jenkins
Arizona Republic
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office says it has resolved a lawsuit with Arizona after the state Department of Corrections confirmed it was prepared to carry out executions.
Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the establishment of a Death Penalty Independent Review Commission in January, and Attorney General Kris Mayes filed to withdraw a motion for the only pending death warrant, effectively pausing executions in Arizona.
When death-row prisoner Aaron Gunches and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office challenged that decision, the state claimed in March that it lacked the personnel and expertise to carry out executions because of the turnover in administrations after the appointment.
At his confirmation hearing in June, Thornell said the department has been prepared since May 5 to carry out an execution should a warrant for one be issued. The only remaining matter would be the compounding of the execution drugs because they have a limited shelf life, he said.
“The Maricopa County Attorney’s
Office recently brought a lawsuit asking that Arizona’s Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry be prepared to carry out an execution in accordance with the law,” the office said in a statement on Thursday.
