• Attorney General seeks set execution briefing schedule to prevent drug expiration • Defense counsel warns shorter timelines could harm capital defendants’ rights • Arizona Supreme Court plans to review new proposal in November meeting

A 90-day expiration date on the state’s lethal injection drug of choice prompted the Attorney General’s Office to push for a shortened or streamlined briefing process ahead of executions. Expectedly, the push has prompted some concern from death row counsel on potential prejudice against capital defendants.

Arizona Supreme Court rules governing warrants for execution are silent on how the state high court handles the briefing process, but since resuming executions in 2022, the attorney general has developed a typical practice.

In the last five execut

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