An Arizona death row prisoner has asked the state’s highest court to skip legal formalities and schedule his execution earlier than authorities were aiming for. In a handwritten court filing, Aaron Brian Gunches asked the state Supreme Court to schedule his execution for mid-February for the 2002 killing of Ted Price. Gunches’ execution would mark a resumption of Arizona’s use of the death penalty after a two-year pause while it reviewed its procedures. Gunches said the state was dragging its feet in asking the court for a legal briefing schedule leading up to the execution. Prosecutors say a briefing schedule is needed to ensure officials can meet execution requirements.
