The debate surrounding the resumption of the death penalty in Arizona continues with strong criticism against the state's preparedness, alongside defense from top state officials. Governor Katie Hobbs dismissed retired Judge David Duncan, who previously reviewed the state's execution protocol and recommended against using lethal injection, citing possible inhumanity. Duncan's dismissal has raised questions about the state's readiness and transparency in handling capital punishment.
In response to critics, Gov. Hobbs insisted that Duncan was "not up to the task," an assertion that had some questioning whether political motives were at play. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Libertarian Policy Institute, aired grave concerns. In a statement obtained by FOX 10, Nicolas Sarwark from the Libertarian Policy Institute expressed that "If there are flaws in the system, the last thing the governor should be doing is pushing forward to kill people, before those flaws are fixed."
Meanwhile, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has moved forward with seeking execution warrants. Mayes, standing by her duties as attorney general, remarked, "The death penalty is the law of Arizona. As long as it is the law of Arizona, and I don’t believe that it is unconstitutional, we are going to carry out the law," according to a FOX 10 interview. Mayes also mentioned the long wait of victim Ted Price's family, emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of carrying out justice in these cases.
Adding to the controversy, Jared Keenan from the ACLU highlighted alarming details from the draft of Duncan's report, including mentions of execution drugs being stored in private homes and the Arizona Department of Corrections researching drug use on Wikipedia. These issues point towards serious procedural gaps and underscore the fears of advocates who argue that the governor may be rushing executions without due diligence, which the governor's office has denied. As per AZ Capitol Times, Gov. Hobbs has full confidence in the state Department of Corrections’ ability to carry out "this ultimate punishment according to the law and ensuring that the botched situation isn’t going to happen."
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