Phoenix, Arizona – Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has faced criticism for attempting to expedite the execution of convicted murderer Aaron Gunches without the involvement of the state attorney general and governor.
Last year, Governor Katie Hobbs suspended executions in Arizona while a review of the process was conducted. This decision coincided with the scheduled execution of Gunches, among over 100 death row inmates awaiting the same fate.
Gunches had admitted to the kidnapping and murder of Ted Price in 2002, leading Price into the desert and fatally shooting him. He was sentenced to death by a jury in 2013.
In a separate case, Gunches pleaded guilty to attempting to murder a state trooper in La Paz County by shooting him twice in 2003. Fortunately, the trooper survived due to wearing a bulletproof vest.
While on death row in 2022, Gunches requested his own execution in a handwritten motion to the state supreme court. However, after the halt on executions in 2023, he withdrew his request.
With Gunches’ original death warrant now expired, Mitchell is now seeking a new one from the state supreme court. However, this move has been met with opposition from critics, including the state attorney general, who argues that Mitchell lacks the legal authority to pursue this course of action.
The attorney general accused Mitchell of using Gunches’ case for political gain, insisting that only the attorney general is authorized to seek warrants for execution. The ongoing dispute highlights the complexities and legal intricacies surrounding the death penalty in Arizona.