5:30pm: The 9th Circuit panel of three judges REFUSED to stop tomorrow’s execution. “As stated above, the ultimate question is “whether [Dixon] can rationally understand the reasons for his death sentence.” The state court’s conclusion that Dixon does have this understanding was not based upon an unreasonable determination of the facts.”
3pm: Here is the video of the 9th Circuit oral argument this afternoon:
2pm: We are live-tweeting the oral arguments before the 9th Circuit. Tune in: https://twitter.com/arizonaslaw/status/1524132456869232641
BREAKING: U.S. District Court Judge denies Clarence Dixon’s habeas corpus action, claiming that he is not competent to be executed.
Judge Diane Humetewa issued the 26 page ruling this morning, concluding that “In sum, the competency court did not improperly restrict its assessment of Dixon’s competency to his mere awareness that he was to be punished by death. In finding that Dixon did not prove his incompetence by a preponderance of the evidence, the court reasonably applied Panetti.”
Execution set for tomorrow.
This article was reported by AZ Law founder Paul Weich. Paul is currently running for a seat in Arizona’s House of Representatives.
“AZ Law” includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc. AZ Law is founded by Phoenix attorney Paul Weich, and joins Arizona’s Politics on the internet.