Navajo man loses latest bid to delay federal execution

His attorneys sought a delay from the U.S. District Court in Arizona where he was sentenced in the 2001 slayings of a 63-year-old fellow Navajo tribal member and her 9-year-old granddaughter. They argued the execution must be performed under Arizona law.

Native American man seeks further delay of federal execution

Lezmond Mitchell, who is Navajo, is set to be put to death on Aug. 26. He’s among the first inmates whose executions were scheduled after the U.S. Justice Department said that it would resume carrying out capital punishment for the first time since 2003.

Execution set for sole Native American on federal death row

Despite the grisly nature of the killings, tribal officials and even the victims’ family opposed the death penalty. Native American tribes for decades have been able to tell federal prosecutors if they want a death sentence considered for certain crimes on their land. Nearly all, including the Navajo Nation, have rejected that option.

Navajo Nation reports 54 new COVID-19 cases, 5 deaths

The latest weekend lockdown that includes the closure of businesses began after sunset on July 24 and ended on the morning of July 27. The tribe also has implemented daily and nighttime curfews.

Navajo lawmakers to take up coronavirus-related bills

Tribal lawmakers approved a bill in April to cancel the tribe’s primary election and decide the winner by plurality vote in the November general election. Tribal President Jonathan Nez later vetoed the action and urged lawmakers and election officials to come up with alternatives to preserve tribal members’ rights to vote.