Entries tagged with “Aaron Gunches”
Jan 21, 2026
New Autopsy Report Renews Concerns about Arizona’s Execution Protocol
An autopsy of Richard Djerf, who was executed in Arizona in October 2025, has renewed concerns about the state’s lethal injection execution protocol and the state’s efforts to address longstanding execution-related concerns. Mr. Djerf was convicted for the September 1993 murders of four members of the Luna family in Phoenix. The autopsy, conducted by Pinal County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. John Hu, established for the first time that medical personnel encountered significant difficulty…
Upcoming Executions
,Nov 24, 2025
18th Florida Death Row Prisoner Set for Execution in 2025 Waives Appeals, Fifth Volunteer of 2025
Mark Geralds has waived all pending and future legal proceedings in his case and is scheduled to be executed by Florida officials on December 9, 2025. Mr. Geralds elected to forgo his appeals just days after Governor Ron DeSantis signed his death warrant, joining a documented group of death row prisoners who have also decided not to try and prevent their executions. Mr. Geralds “indicated that his wish was to forgo all warrant proceedings and allow the execution to proceed,” wrote Bay County…
Executions
Religion
,Mar 24, 2025
Four Executions in Three Days Spotlight Constitutional Concerns About Death Penalty
In a three-day span from March 18 to March 20, four men were executed in four different states. Two of the men put to death, in Louisiana and Arizona, were the first executed in their state in years. While the close timing of the executions resulted from independent state-level decisions and individualized legal developments rather than any coordinated national effort, all four executions raised serious constitutional concerns. March 18: Jessie Hoffman (LA) On March 18, Louisiana executed…
Methods of Execution
,Feb 03, 2025
Fired Federal Judge Raises Serious Concerns About Arizona’s Lethal Injection Protocol
Retired federal magistrate Judge David Duncan (pictured), who was hired and then abruptly fired by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to review the state’s execution protocol, continues to raise significant concerns about the state’s lethal injection protocol. In an interview with ABC15, Judge Duncan highlighted issues with the chain of command for lethal injection drugs, transparency, and the state documentation process. “It’s shocking irony that one of my tasks was transparency — [and] on the eve of…
Botched Executions
,Upcoming Executions
,Jan 07, 2025
Aaron Gunches Asks for February Execution Date, Raising New Concerns About Arizona’s Lethal Injection Protocol and the Execution of “Volunteers”
No jury has ever learned about Aaron Gunches’ life history and experiences, nothing about his childhood, mental and physical health, or trauma — the mitigation evidence that the Supreme Court has said is essential to a constitutional death sentence. Arizona courts judged Mr. Gunches competent to represent himself in two separate trials for the murder of his ex-girlfriend’s husband, and he presented no defense in either proceeding. Jurors twice sentenced him to death. On December 30, Mr. Gunches…
Dec 02, 2024
Arizona Attorney General Announces State Ready to Resume Executions as Governor Hobbs Abruptly Ends Independent Review of Execution Protocols
On November 26, 2024, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced her office will resume seeking execution warrants. AG Mayes’ announcement comes after Governor Katie Hobbs ended the state’s independent review of its execution protocol and processes, dismissing retired federal magistrate David Duncan before he had completed his review. In a letter to Judge Duncan, Gov. Hobbs said his actions during the review went beyond his mandate. The review was launched in 2023, as newly elected Gov.
Executions
Botched Executions
,Jan 23, 2023
Botched Executions Prompt New Arizona Governor and Attorney General to Halt Executions Pending Independent Review of State’s Execution Process
Executions in Arizona are effectively on hold after Governor Katie Hobbs (pictured) ordered a review of the state’s execution process following three botched executions in 2022 and Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a motion to withdraw the state’s only pending request for a death warrant. The two state officials, elected in the November midterm elections against opponents who falsely claimed the 2020 Presidential election had been stolen, said their actions will help ensure transparency and…