Jeffrey Hutchinson’s execution is set for May 1. Today, the Florida Supreme Court denied his pending claims, and the Bradford County court held a hearing on his competency for execution.
I am a now-retired capital defense attorney from New Orleans. I tried a number of death penalty cases in the public defenders' office there and had to deal with minimal support because the money was not available for a decent defense. After the AEDPA was enacted, it got even worse on appeal and I subscribe to this site because time has not been kind to capital defense. At least I did not have to deal with less-than-unanimous verdict issues (yet another obstacle to true justice). It appears to me that FL has joined AL, TX and LA in denigrating capital defense cases with little regard for issues that get passed off as "harmless error" or "too late". I would not be surprised to learn that Jeffrey does not win on this level, either. God, I hope I am not casting a hex...
So, is it at the point now where he only has this and the US supreme Court left?
Tbh, theh latest appeal makes zero sense. Wouldn't have to have known that he killed those 4 people? Like, he must be know himself what he's saying is a lie.
I am a now-retired capital defense attorney from New Orleans. I tried a number of death penalty cases in the public defenders' office there and had to deal with minimal support because the money was not available for a decent defense. After the AEDPA was enacted, it got even worse on appeal and I subscribe to this site because time has not been kind to capital defense. At least I did not have to deal with less-than-unanimous verdict issues (yet another obstacle to true justice). It appears to me that FL has joined AL, TX and LA in denigrating capital defense cases with little regard for issues that get passed off as "harmless error" or "too late". I would not be surprised to learn that Jeffrey does not win on this level, either. God, I hope I am not casting a hex...
So, is it at the point now where he only has this and the US supreme Court left?
Tbh, theh latest appeal makes zero sense. Wouldn't have to have known that he killed those 4 people? Like, he must be know himself what he's saying is a lie.
That is correct. His only pending claim in Florida court is the insanity claim, and he can still seek relief at SCOTUS on the other claims.