"Report on Wood execution due by mid-November," is the AP report, via the Arizona Capitol Times.
An independent investigation of the nearly two-hour execution of an Arizona death row inmate is expected to be completed in the next two weeks, attorneys representing the state said Wednesday.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Binford, who is representing the state in a lawsuit involving the execution of Joseph Wood, said during a court status conference that a report is expected by mid-November.
Binford said the findings will go to Gov. Jan Brewer and to Arizona Department of Corrections director Charles Ryan, who may change the drug protocol for executions based on the report’s recommendations.
Attorneys representing several prisoners and the First Amendment Coalition of Arizona are seeking information about lethal injection methods used by the state.
U.S. District Court Judge Neil Wake asked both sides for input about the need for litigation before the report comes out.
Phoenix public radio station KJZZ-FM reports, "Public Defender's Office Sues Over Execution," by Alexandra Olgin.
The public defender’s office is suing the Arizona Department of Corrections over what many are calling a botched execution. There are too many factors up in the air to start litigation.
The question of this case is about the two drugs used in Joseph Wood’s execution last July. But the state is in the process of reviewing the execution. And it isn’t clear whether the drug procedure will change based on the review. Federal Judge Neil Wake said it’s premature to litigate before the review is done. One of the Attorney’s suing the state is Mark Haddad.
“The judge wants to avoid in the future litigation by crisis. So one of the steps he’s asked the parties to take at a preliminary stage," Haddad said. "One of the steps he’s asked the parties to take at a preliminary stage to discuss whether we can agree on a schedule for challenges in the future.”
"Arizona Death Penalty Still in Limbo After Botched Execution," is by Matthew Hendley for Phoenix New Times.
After it took two hours and 15 doses of lethal-injection drugs for the state to execute convicted murderer Joseph Wood in July, the state's death penalty procedure is still in limbo.
A lawsuit in federal court, filed by both current death-row prisoners and a legal group representing media organizations, challenges various aspects of the state's lethal-injection protocol. At a status conference today, Judge Neil Wake suggested there may be no way right now for the state to execute anyone.
As Wake put it, "There seems to be a great deal of uncertainty, to put it in a great understatement."
Earlier coverage from Arizona begins at the link.
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