Palm Beach County: Semmie Lee Williams, Jr.'s trial stayed
The State has appealed the trial court's ruling that Williams is intellectually disabled, causing the trial court to delay Williams’ trial pending the appeal.
As TFDP previously covered, a trial court ruled in December that Semmie Lee Williams, Jr. is intellectually disabled and, therefore, ineligible for the death penalty. As stated in TFDP’s prior post, the State had the opportunity to appeal the Order.
The State has now appealed the ruling to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. In light of the State’s appeal, the trial court has stayed (i.e., delayed) Williams’ trial pending the Fourth District’s ruling on the State’s appeal.
Williams did not oppose the State’s motion to stay the trial. According to the Order, Williams “has already formally waived speedy trial.” The status conference scheduled for January 29 will proceed.