[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 61329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27867]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Notice of Request for Certification of Arizona Capital Counsel 
Mechanism OLP Docket No. 166

AGENCY: Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the State of Arizona has 
provided additional information regarding its request for certification 
of its capital counsel mechanism by the Attorney General, and that the 
period to submit public comment to the Department of Justice regarding 
Arizona's request has been extended to 60 days from the date of 
publication of this notice.

DATES: Written and electronic comments must be submitted on or before 
February 26, 2018. Comments received by mail will be considered timely 
if they are postmarked on or before that date. The electronic Federal 
Docket Management System (FDMS) will accept comments until Midnight 
Eastern Time at the end of that day.

ADDRESSES: To ensure proper handling of comments, please reference 
``Docket No. OLP 166'' on all electronic and written correspondence. 
The Department encourages that all comments be submitted electronically 
through http://www.regulations.gov using the electronic comment form 
provided on that site. Paper comments that duplicate the electronic 
submission should not be submitted. Individuals who wish to submit 
written comments may send those to the contact listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section immediately below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurence Rothenberg, Deputy Assistant 
Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy, U.S. Department of Justice, 
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530; telephone (202) 532-
4465.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Chapter 154 of title 28, United States Code, 
provides special procedures for federal habeas corpus review of cases 
brought by prisoners in State custody who are subject to capital 
sentences. These special procedures may be available to a State only if 
the Attorney General of the United States has certified that the State 
has established a qualifying mechanism for the appointment, 
compensation, and payment of reasonable litigation expenses of 
competent counsel in State postconviction proceedings for indigent 
capital prisoners. 28 U.S.C. 2261, 2265; 28 CFR part 26.
    On November 16, 2017, the Department of Justice, Office of Legal 
Policy published a notice in the Federal Register (82 FR 53529, OLP 
Docket No. 166, Document No. 2017-24873, available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/11/16/2017-24873/notice-of-request-for-certification-of-arizona-capital-counsel-mechanism), 
advising the public of Arizona's request for certification, dated April 
18, 2013, and requesting public comment regarding that request. The 
Department also sent a letter to Arizona, dated November 16, 2017, 
asking whether the State wished to supplement or update that request.
    This notice advises the public that the State of Arizona has 
submitted additional information in regard to its prior request for 
certification. Public comment is solicited regarding Arizona's request, 
and the comment period has been extended to 60 days from the date of 
this notice. Arizona's request and supporting materials may be viewed 
at https://www.justice.gov/olp/pending-requests-final-decisions.
    Two comments (from a single commenter) received by the Department 
in response to the Department's November 16, 2017 notice requested the 
comment period be extended from 60 days to 180 days or, in the 
alternative, to extend the comment period by a lesser amount in light 
of supplemental information submitted by the State of Arizona. The 
Department declines at this time to extend the comment period to 180 
days, but, as noted, has extended the deadline for public comment until 
60 days from the date of publication of this notice. Further, the 
Department may choose to solicit additional public comment if necessary 
during the review process.

    Dated: December 20, 2017.
Beth A. Williams,
Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-27867 Filed 12-26-17; 8:45 am]
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