Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is lobbying the state Supreme Court to issue a new execution warrant for the convicted murderer after his previous one expired.

This has put the county attorney and the state attorney general at odds.

In response, Attorney General Chris Mays issued a statement arguing that the authority to seek execution warrants rests solely with the attorney general's position, and that his authority does not extend to the county level. Mays plans to file a motion with the Arizona Supreme Court to dismiss the move.

Mitchell argues in court filings that Arizona law does not give the attorney general exclusive authority to represent the state in court.

Mitchell is seeking a death warrant for Aaron Brian Gantjes, who was sentenced to death in 2013.

In 2023, Mays and Gov. Katie Hobbs imposed a moratorium on all executions in Arizona while an appointee reviewed the state's execution procedures.

→ More Arizona politics news