Friends,
For those who haven’t been following our work against Florida’s death penalty before now, welcome! Much has been said (and will continue to be said!) about the spree of executions here, but the work to end the death penalty once and for all extends beyond that. Keep reading for more information about everything that we’ve been up to this summer — no executions included.
In the months ahead, we will be welcoming a full-time Community Organizer to our staff, as well as engaging with murder victim family members in a new way. We’re also planning and supporting some exciting events for the fall, all with an eye on the upcoming gubernatorial election. We’re glad you’re here, and hope you’ll read to the end to get a better idea of everything that’s going on Meanwhile In Florida.
Onward,
Grace Hanna
Executive Director, FADP
50 Years of Florida’s Death Penalty
On July 2, we marked 50 years since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinions in Gregg v. Georgia, Texas v. Jurek, and Proffit v. Florida, clearing the way for the death penalty to return to America after a brief pause. Florida was the first state to pass a law complying with the courts edicts, even calling a special legislative session right before the winter holidays. Last week, to mark the grim occasion, we had the honor of bringing together 3 of the people who were there to discuss what happened, reflect on what has happened in the half century since, and look forward to what might happen next.
Michael Radelet, PhD, a death penalty scholar and, David Kendall, Esq., the attorney who represented John Spenkelink, the first person executed in Florida after the return of the death penalty, and Susan Cary, Esq., another member of the Spenkelink legal team and longtime death penalty advocate all gathered with FADP Executive Director Grace Hanna for an important — and hopeful — conversation. We hope you’ll watch the replay.
Exonerate Ernie Suggs
Last month, something pretty remarkable happened. Laura Johnson, the daughter of murder victim Pauline Casey, penned an op-ed for the South Florida Sun Sentinel explaining that she thinks Florida sent the wrong man to death row. She’s fighting to save Ernest Suggs’ life, and to ensure that the person who actually did murder her mother is held responsible. We need everyone’s help to spread the word by watching and sharing the video and website above, reading and sharing her important essay, and following Ernie’s account on Instagram.
Ernie’s appeal is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, so now’s the time to gather everyone’s voices and speak out to #ExonerateErnie and save an innocent man from death row.
Explore the #ExonerateErnie Website
Catch the Devil
Longtime followers of Florida death penalty news are no doubt familiar with James Dailey, the Vietnam veteran who has spent nearly 50 years on death row for a crime he has always maintained he did not commit. Now, his story, told through the lens of the audacious conman who helped put him there, is on the New York Times best seller list! You can get a copy of Catch the Devil by Pamela Colloff anywhere books are sold (though we recommend your local bookstore)!
If Pam’s name seems familiar, that’s because she also wrote an exceptional article about Florida’s death penalty for the New York Times Magazine and ProPublica. If you haven’t read it yet, please do! You just might see some familiar faces.
The Window On (and Into!) Death Row
Last week in St. Augustine, we kicked off the first of several screenings of The Window on Death Row. This exceptional short film covers the story of Florida death row exoneree Joaquín José Martínez and his transformation during his five years of wrongful incarceration. We have several more showings coming up, and we hope to see you there!
Speaking Out for Tommy Zeigler
FADP was recently the lead signer on an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in support of William Thomas “Tommy” Zeigler’s pending appeal at the Florida Supreme Court. Tommy has maintained his innocence for over 50 years, and new DNA evidence supports this claim. The brief, which you can read here, explores Florida’s long history of wrongful convictions and the evidence that Tommy, now 81-years-old and the longest-standing prisoner on death row, is another victim of a system that has gotten it wrong so many times before. Thank you to Melanie Verdecia of Tracking Florida’s Death Penalty and the team at Quarles & Brady for representing FADP as pro bono counsel in this matter, and to the 8 exonerees and 16 organizations that joined us as signers!
Catholic Leaders Against Florida’s Death Penalty
In recent weeks, the Catholic community in Florida has been speaking out against the death penalty in a big way. On July 27, the Bishops of Florida issued a Pastoral Letter on the Death Penalty, calling on “all Catholics and people of good will” to remind them that the Church teaches that the death penalty is inadmissible, and that there are ways to ensure public safety without continuing the cycle of violence. Only a few days later, Bishop Eric Pohlmeier of the Diocese of St. Augustine published a letter and op-ed calling on those in his diocese to reflect on the values we wish to uphold as people when considering capital punishment. Read it here in “What Kind of Justice Do We Seek?”
“In the end, while supporters of capital punishment – who may consider themselves pro-life – claim that it serves a presumed good of justice for the victims and their loved ones, it comes at a much greater expense to the common good of society, and our common humanity.”
– FCCB’s Pastoral Letter on the Death Penalty
On the Road
Tallahassee, FL: Herman Lindsey, FADP Board Member, with Grace in the Capitol rotunda
Long Island, NY: Bridget repping FADP on the day of the Bar exam
St. Augustine, FL: At our first screening of The Window on Death Row with the Diocese of St. Augustine
Washington, D.C.: Grace dragged her cousin across D.C. to find a copy of the NYT Magazine with FADP
Fort Collins, CO: Apparently FADP merch is quite popular with the public defenders out west!
Warrenton, VA: At the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s annual Capital Punishment Conference with friends from the Florida capital defense community
St. Petersburg, FL: Pamela Colloff in conversation with Gilbert King about her new book, Catch the Devil
Topeka, KS: Maria with friends (both of whom used to live in Florida!) from the Capital Habeas Unit
Partner Spotlight
