The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has announced that it has settled its lawsuit with the state of Arizona after the state’s Department of Corrections confirmed it was ready to execute.
Governor Katie Hobbs announced in January the creation of an independent review commission on the death penalty, and Attorney General Chris Mays petitioned to drop the only pending death warrant motion, effectively moratorizing executions in Arizona. .
When death-row inmate Aaron Gantis and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office challenged the decision, the state announced in March that it had enough personnel to carry out executions due to a change of government after the appointment of new corrections director Ryan Thornell. claimed to lack expertise. .
At a confirmation hearing in June, Thornell said the ministry had been preparing to carry out executions if warrants were served since May 5. The only remaining question, he said, would be the concoction of the execution drug, as it has a limited shelf life.
He was on death row for 29 years.His case was contested in court.now he is free
“The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office recently filed a lawsuit against the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Re-Immigration seeking to prepare to carry out the death penalty according to law,” the agency said in a statement Thursday.
“As part of the lawsuit, the ADCRR has confirmed to the victims, the MCAO and the court that they are ready to carry out the death penalty in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
As a result, the office and the victim’s bereaved family agreed to withdraw the lawsuit.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement: “It is painful for the family to continue to be bogged down in grief and anger while awaiting trial.”
“I believe the law is clear. If a defendant is sentenced to death, the state has an obligation to act,” Mitchell said. “I am committed to these families and will continue to take appropriate steps to ensure they receive justice and the law is enforced.”
