A Maricopa county Superior Court judge will hear arguments Friday challenging Arizona’s death penalty. Attorneys argue the law is unconstitutionally arbitrary.
Under state statutes, there are 14 aggravating factors listed for applying capital punishment. The prosecution can seek the death penalty if it can allege at least one of those factors in the case.
Opponents say the law is too broad and allows prosecutors to apply capital punishment to every first-degree case.
Attorneys for 41-year-old Macario Lopez will argue the constitutionality of the law. Lopez was charged with killing his girlfriend in 2009. The prosecutor filed to seek the death penalty motion. More than 25 other defendants have joined the challenge to have the death penalty option removed from their cases as well.
