Executions will resume in Arizona following a two-year pause, according to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Mayes announced in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday that her office will soon seek an execution warrant for Aaron Brian Gunches, who was sentenced to death for murdering his girlfriend’s ex-husband, Ted Price.
The pause on executions began under Gov. Katie Hobbs, who ordered a review of death penalty procedures to ensure compliance with legal and constitutional standards. Hobbs had pledged not to proceed with executions until the state demonstrated it could carry them out transparently and humanely.
The review concluded this month after Hobbs dismissed the retired federal magistrate overseeing the process. Corrections officials conducted a comprehensive review of protocols, making key improvements to address concerns.
“Gov. Hobbs remains committed to upholding the law while ensuring justice is carried out in a way that’s transparent and humane,” her spokesman, Christian Slater, said.
The state had faced significant hurdles in its ability to perform executions, including difficulties securing an IV team and obtaining pentobarbital for lethal injections. These challenges delayed Gunches’ execution, initially scheduled for April 2023.
Arizona previously resumed executions in 2022 after an eight-year hiatus, prompted by criticism over a botched execution in 2014 and difficulties in obtaining necessary drugs. Mayes indicated her office has been preparing for the resumption of executions since early this year, aiming for a timeline aligned with the completion of the review.
In the coming weeks, Mayes will request the Arizona Supreme Court to issue the execution warrant for Gunches.
