PHOENIX — Maricopa County's top prosecutor has agreed to drop a lawsuit against state officials after getting reassurance that Arizona is prepared to continue executing inmates.
Gov. Katie Hobbs announced earlier this year the state would pause executions until her administration could conduct a review of Arizona's death penalty procedures.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell responded by filing litigation to compel the Department of Corrections to carry out an execution.
Ryan Thornell, the state's new prisons director, recently told lawmakers his department is ready to resume executions on death row.
"The issues, the questions, the concerns I had as director have all been resolved," Thornell told the Senate's Committee on Director Nominations.
Mitchell announced Thursday her office was dismissing its lawsuit after getting reassurance from the prisons that they were prepared to carry out executions in compliance with the law.
"I believe the law is clear – once a defendant is sentenced to death, the state is obligated to act. I am committed to these families and will continue to take appropriate steps to make sure that they do receive justice and that the law is enforced," Mitchell said in a statement.
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