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Attorney claims governor’s office tried to influence death penalty case
New allegations that the governor’s office has tried to influence Board of Executive Clemency decisions surfaced today from the attorney of a prisoner who is about to be executed.
Capitol Quotes: Sept. 13, 2013
This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from Arizona's political scene.
Brewer defends appointment of ousted clemency board director
Gov. Brewer defended her decision to appoint Jesse Hernandez as chairman and executive director of the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency, an appointment that has come under fire since his ouster from the position last week.
Former Board of Clemency chairman says resignation driven by politics
Former Board of Executive Clemency Chairman Jesse Hernandez countered allegations of misconduct by saying his resignation was forced and driven by politics and retaliation by his fellow board members for proposing to cut their hours.
Former chairman of Board of Clemency denies most allegations of misconduct
A worker’s discrimination complaint has led to detailed allegations of an intolerable working environment at the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency under Chairman Jesse Hernandez.
Among other things, Hernandez ogled women in the office, called a staff member a heathen for not attending church, urged workers to gossip about one another and promoted a girlfriend who wasn’t qualified for [...]
Arizona man wants execution delay until after Brewer’s gone
Attorneys for a death-row inmate set to be put to death in Arizona next week want the execution delayed until the state has a new governor, arguing in a Tuesday filing that Gov. Jan Brewer appointed "political cronies" to a clemency board in an unconstitutional, closed-door process.
Judge: ‘Strong likelihood’ state didn’t follow law in execution case
Death-row inmate Samuel Lopez has asked the Arizona Supreme Court to delay his scheduled execution on Wednesday after a lower-court found there is a good chance the state didn’t follow the law in choosing three new members to the Board of Executive Clemency.
Attorney: Clemency Board appointments made illegally
The legal team for the next man scheduled to be executed in the state walked out of a clemency hearing today after alleging the Governor’s Office violated open meeting laws in appointing three new members to the Board of Executive Clemency.
Dust-up leads to Clemency director’s firing
Gov. Jan Brewer fired the outgoing executive director of the Board of Executive Clemency after three newly confirmed appointees showed up late for work Monday.
Their tardiness caused a two-hour delay of clemency hearings as victims and families of prisoners stood by disgruntled, and waited for a quorum to form.
3 new appointees on clemency board; long-time chief out
Duane Belcher, chairman and executive director of the Arizona Board of Clemency, is on his way out after 20 years, as three new appointees take their places on the panel now made up entirely of Gov. Jan Brewer’s picks. Belcher’s departure, some observers say, creates a vacuum of experience and leadership. Belcher is also one of the last members left from a board that unanimously recommended[...]
