Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is trying to get a new supply of chemicals to execute the state’s death row inmates. This comes after the U.S. Attorney General announced the federal government would resume executions after nearly two decades.
Arizona hasn’t put anyone to death since 2014 because it hasn’t had access to the drugs used to do it. The state halted executions after a botched execution led to a moratorium on the practice.
Ryan Anderson is with the Attorney General's office. He told Capitol Media Services if Arizona has a death penalty it should be enforced — rather than allowing the lack of a drug to get in the way.
"If we want to have a debate about the ethics of the death penalty or whether a state wants to allow capital punishment, then you know what, go to the ballot and change the law," Anderson said. "But right now in Arizona capital punishment is legal."
An aide to Gov. Doug Ducey said the governor was reviewing the issue and is looking in to access the state may have to the federal supply of the drug pentobarbital.
Dale Baich is the assistant federal public defender who represented inmates in a case that led to the state’s current execution protocol, and he spoke with The Show for more on these developments.
