Arizona is preparing to resume executions, potentially as soon as early 2025, after a two-year hiatus. Attorney General Kris Mayes made the decision following the dismissal of a retired federal magistrate hired by Gov. Katie Hobbs to review the state’s execution process. The magistrate had suggested using a firing squad, which is not an option under Arizona law. Mayes will now seek a death warrant for Aaron Gunches, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2002.
The Department of Corrections, under the new director Ryan Thornell, has made several improvements to the execution process, including enhanced training requirements and better documentation. Mayes believes the state is now prepared to conduct executions in a constitutional, legal, and humane manner. There are concerns about fairness in the application of the death penalty based on race and location of the crime. Mayes emphasized the need for legislative action to address disparities in prosecutions. This decision by Arizona officials comes amid ongoing debate about the fairness and ethics of capital punishment.
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