Cole Warrant: Briefing complete at Florida Supreme Court
As of Monday this week, the briefing in Cole’s appeal pending at the Supreme Court of Florida is complete. When the Court will issue its decision is unclear.
Loran Cole’s execution is scheduled for August 29 at 6:00 p.m.—one week from today.
Shortly after Gov. DeSantis signed the warrant, Cole, through his attorneys, filed a successive motion for postconviction relief in the circuit court. (The Motion is covered here.) The court decided to not hold an evidentiary hearing on Cole’s claims.
After the circuit court issued an Order summarily denying Cole’s claims (covered here), Cole appealed the ruling to the Florida Supreme Court.
As of Monday this week, the briefing in Cole’s appeal pending at the Supreme Court of Florida is complete.
On August 15, the State filed its 69-page Answer Brief. The State summarizes its arguments as follows:
On Monday, Cole filed his Reply Brief.
Therefore, briefing is now complete. Oral argument has not been scheduled on Cole’s claims. In its Answer Brief, the State contends that oral argument is unnecessary.
When the Court will issue its decision is unclear. If the Court denies Cole’s claims, Cole will still have an opportunity to file a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, which also must be briefed and decided before the execution—unless a stay of execution is granted.
All of the briefing can be found on the Court’s docket here.
TFDP Prior Coverage of the Cole Warrant
My thoughts are with everyone involved in the warrant and execution process.