Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell discusses her views on a study ordered by Gov. Katie Hobbs of how the death penalty is implemented and a parallel stay on seeking executions by Attorney General Kris Mayes in a press conference on Jan. 24, 2023.

Executions are on hold in Arizona until a governor-ordered review of death penalty protocols is complete. The state’s attorney general issued the moratorium last week.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said Tuesday that she respects the effort and hopes the process is speedy and transparent. Families often wait decades for state and federal appeals to play out. 

“It is my hope that my elected peers will act with integrity and uphold the rights of victims just as the rights of the accused already have been upheld,” Mitchell said. “It is my hope that as a state we will not abandon our promise of justice, because justice delayed is justice denied.”

Mitchell said she will send a letter to the AG with names of death row inmates who have run out of appeals and are eligible for execution once the protocol review is complete.

Arizona carried out three executions last year after a nearly eight-year hiatus.