WARRANT: State's response to Ford's petition for a writ of certiorari
James Ford's execution is scheduled for February 13. This morning, the State responded to Ford's petition for a writ of certiorari at the U.S. Supreme Court.
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. After denying Ford’s request for an evidentiary hearing,1 the circuit court denied Ford’s motion. Ford appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, raising three claims. (More on Ford’s arguments in his Initial Brief here.) He also filed a motion to stay the execution and send the case back to the circuit court, which the Court denied. On Friday, the Court affirmed the circuit court’s denial of Ford’s claims.
Over the weekend, Ford filed a petition for a writ of certiorari and application for stay of execution at the U.S. Supreme Court. (More here.) This morning, the State filed its response.
State’s Response to Ford’s Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
In its Response, the State reworded the questions presented in Ford’s petition as follows:
The State’s argument as to why the Court should deny the petition is as follows:
A full copy of the State’s response can be accessed on the Court’s website here.
TFDP Prior Coverage of the Ford Warrant
My thoughts are with everyone involved in the warrant- and execution-related process.