An Arizona prisoner is asking to be executed sooner than the state wants

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.