Death row inmate’s attorneys claim clemency board makeup is illegal

PHOENIX — Attorneys for dying row inmate Clarence Dixon need to delay his look earlier than the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency. In a courtroom submitting, the attorneys say three of the 4 present board members come from legislation enforcement. Arizona legislation stipulates not more than two members of the identical career can serve on the board at anyone time. Robert Dunham, who is the manager director for the non-profit Death Penalty Information Center, questions whether or not the clemency board’s makeup poses a menace to Dixon’s proper to due course of. “When you’ve 4 members of the board one is a member for the Attorney General’s Office and the opposite three who’ve a long time of expertise as legislation enforcement, that begins to seem like you are not having a significant cross-section of people making a dedication.”The listening to earlier than the clemency board is Dixon’s final likelihood to plead for mercy. The board votes on whether or not or to not suggest to the governor that he grant both a commutation of sentence and/or a reprieve. The governor is not sure by the advice. “If you’ve an illegally constituted board then not one of the actions they take are legitimate. Mr. Dixon has the correct to have a clemency process earlier than he is executed,” Durham stated.Delaying the clemency listening to may have the impact of suspending the execution. Dixon is scheduled to die by deadly injection on May 11. It will probably be Arizona’s first execution in 8 years. DNA linked Dixon, who was serving time for different crimes, to the 1977 homicide of ASU pupil Deana Bowdoin. A separate authorized crew filed an attraction in Pinal County claiming Dixon is not mentally match to be executed. A May 5 competency listening to is scheduled in that case.

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