GALLUP, N.M. — Clarence Dixon’s request to commute his scheduled execution was denied.
Dixon presented his case Thursday to the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency, asking the board and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, said Amanda Bass, who is representing him.
[NOTE: This article was originally published by the Navajo Times. Used with permission. All rights reserved.]
Dixon is scheduled to be executed on May 11.
“Dixon is not entitled to mercy from the state of Arizona,” Bass said of the rejection.
Dixon was convicted and sentenced to death for a 1978 sexual assault and murder of an Arizona State University student. His attorneys argue that he has a severe mental illness and is incompetent to be executed.
On Tuesday, Bass said they would file with the Pinal County Superior Court in Florence, Arizona.
RELATED: Navajo Man Scheduled for May 11 Execution
“We will present additional evidence of his severe mental illness and incompetency to be executed at his competency hearing in the Pinal County Superior Court,” Bass said.
Bass did not say what time Dixon’s competency hearing would be.
In June last year, Navajo Nation Attorney General Doreen McPaul wrote a letter to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, asking his office to consider the tribe’s traditional beliefs and its stance against the death penalty.
McPaul wrote the tribe’s culture and religion held life “sacred.”
“The death penalty removes the possibility of restoring harmony whereas a life sentence holds the opportunity to reestablish harmony and find balance in our world,” McPaul wrote to Brnovich.
Attorneys for Dixon say in addition to his severe mental illness, he is legally blind.
Lenny Foster, the former director of the Navajo Corrections Project, said he became acquainted with Dixon in 1988 at Dixon State Prison in Goodyear, Arizona.
Foster said Dixon has been facing the death penalty for 18-19 years and said, “It has to be a very hard psychological struggle for him.”
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Healing Through Words: Joy Harjo's Powerful Journey of Grief and Resilience on Native Bidaské
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee addresses Navajo Nation Council
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.