WARRANT: Ford files Initial Brief at Florida Supreme Court
James Ford's execution is scheduled for February 13. Yesterday, Ford filed his Initial Brief at the Florida Supreme Court challenging the circuit court's denial of his postconviction motion.
James Ford’s execution is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2025—the first for the State in 2025.
Ahead of his execution, Ford filed a two-count successive motion for postconviction relief in the circuit court. (More here.) After denying Ford’s request for an evidentiary hearing,1 the circuit court denied Ford’s motion. (More here.)
On Friday, Ford filed a Notice of Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. Yesterday, his attorneys filed their Initial Brief.
The Brief presents three arguments. The first is a procedural argument:
The second argument relates to Ford’s first claim in his postconviction motion regarding his mental age at the time of the crime.
The third argument relates to Ford’s second claim in his postconviction motion regarding the jury’s nonunanimous recommendation for death and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Erlinger v. United States.
The full Brief can be accessed on the Court’s docket here. According to the Florida Supreme Court’s Scheduling Order (outlined here), the State’s Answer Brief is due by 3:00 p.m. on Friday.
TFDP Prior Coverage of the Ford Warrant
My thoughts are with everyone involved in the warrant- and execution-related process.