Sitemap - 2023 - Tracking Florida's Death Penalty

2023 in Review

State Attorney withdraws request for fingerprint testing in Tommy Zeigler's case

Deceased: Eric K. Patrick

Hillsborough County: Judge rules 8-4 applies to Billy Adams' case

Florida Supreme Court denies two other pending petitions, citing Gonzalez

Duval County: Jury recommends life for Randall Brown

Lake County prosecutors are the first to seek death on child sex charge

BREAKING: Florida Supreme Court denies Gonzalez petition related to application of 2023 statute

Pending at the Florida Supreme Court

Ronnie Keith Williams agrees to two sentences of life without parole

Florida in the news for 2023 executions

Florida Supreme Court issues amendments to Criminal Rules

BREAKING: Joshua McClellan sentenced to life after jury's 10-2 recommendation for death

Florida Supreme Court affirms Markeith Loyd's convictions and sentence of death on direct appeal

Florida's execution method

Thomas Mosley determined incompetent to proceed

Florida Supreme Court affirms denial of Michael Reynolds' request for DNA testing

Capital sex charge in Polk County could carry death penalty

Third case goes to the Sixth DCA

Philip Mathew pleads no contest, receives LWOP

Florida Supreme Court oral arguments next week

Deceased: Thomas Pope

Briefing schedule for Joseph Zieler's direct appeal

Florida Supreme Court denies Thomas Bevel's direct appeal from resentencing

Duval County jury recommends life for Rashaurd Lewis

Okafor resentencing ends in mistrial

Capital Sex Charges Begin

Broward County jury recommends death for Peter Avsenew

Florida Supreme Court dismisses petition regarding application of 8-4 statute

Petition filed at Florida Supreme Court challenging Fifth DCA's jurisdiction to weigh in

Charles Anderson resentenced to life

Galante Phillips resentenced to life

YNW Melly - Retrial Update

Hillsborough County: Applying 8-4 statute would violate Ex Post Facto Clauses.

SCOTUS denies Frank Walls' petition for writ of certiorari

Deceased: Paul Beasley Johnson

Michael D. Zack, III Executed 10/3/2023

BREAKING: SCOTUS denies Michael Zack's final claims

Zack Warrant: Claims pending at SCOTUS ahead of scheduled execution

TODAY: Florida's new capital sex crime bill goes into effect.

Florida AG joins others urging SCOTUS to eliminate "evolving standards of decency"

Zack Warrant: Second petition filed at SCOTUS

Zack Warrant: Petition filed at SCOTUS

BREAKING: 11th Circuit denies Zack's appeal

Duval County: Jury recommends life for Johnathan Quiles

Zack Warrant: Litigation Update

Leon County: Aaron Glee sentenced to LWOP

BREAKING: Fifth DCA issues written opinion in Hunter and Victorino

BREAKING: Florida Supreme Court denies Michael Zack's appeal.

Florida Supreme Court denied Floyd Damren's postconviction appeal

Bay County jury recommends death by vote of 10-2 for Michael Hunt

Zack Warrant: Appeal from federal court's denial of stay

Clay County jury convicts Othal Wallace of manslaughter

Zack Warrant: Claims remain pending in state and federal court

Zack Warrant: Litigation Update

Zack Warrant: Briefing begins at Florida Supreme Court

First Broward County trial under 8-4 statute results in life sentence

Zack Warrant: State seeks to dismiss federal action

Zack Warrant: Claims filed in federal court

Florida Supreme Court receives sixth petition about 2023 capital sentencing statute

Fifth petition filed at the Florida Supreme Court challenging application of new statute

Lake County jury recommends death by vote of 10-2 for Joshua McClellan

Florida Supreme Court oral arguments this week

Florida Supreme Court denies stay for Corey Smith

Zack Warrant: Trial court denies evidentiary hearing and defense motions

Zack Warrant: Looking closer at Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Thanks to DP3, and welcome!

Zack Warrant: State's response to Zack's filings

Zack Warrant: Hurricane Idalia poses interruption to trial court litigation

Robert Rimmer resentenced to life

Zack Warrant: Trial court litigation on public records

Zack Warrant: Escambia County schedule

Zack Warrant: Litigation has begun in Escambia County

Jury recommends life for Tiffany Cole

Zack Warrant: Scheduling Order

BREAKING: Death Warrant signed for Michael D. Zack, III

Fourth petition filed at the Florida Supreme Court challenging application of new statute

Jury selection in Tiffany Cole's resentencing begins in Duval County

Michael J. Jackson resentenced to death following jury's 8-4 recommendation

FDOC is allowing lighter uniforms due to extreme heat

Robert Holton's first-degree murder trial ends in mistrial

Gov. DeSantis suspends Ninth Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell

Miami-Dade trial could apply 8-4 statute in penalty phase

Florida Supreme Court dismisses one of three petitions related to new capital sentencing statute

Deceased: Alphonso Cave

James Barnes Executed 8/3/2023

8-4 statute goes to the Sixth DCA

Barnes Execution: Visitation & Call Records

Nassau County trial postponed pending Florida Supreme Court's input on new statute

Parkland judge reprimanded by Florida Supreme Court

YNW Melly trial ends in mistrial

YNW Melly Trial: Jury continues deliberations after Allen Charge

YNW Melly Trial: Jury Out to Deliberate

Past Volunteers for Execution in Florida

Polk County: Applying 8-4 statute would violate Ex Post Facto Clause.

No dismissal from Florida Supreme Court in Gonzalez

John Mosley, Jr. resentenced to death after Hurst resentencing

More dismissal confusion at the Florida Supreme Court

Record-high Temperatures in Florida

Invite your friends to read Tracking Florida's Death Penalty!

Florida Supreme Court gets rid of relative culpability review.

Highlands County trial court rules 8-4 statute applies in upcoming trial.

Warrant: Who is James Barnes? (Part II)

Warrant: Who is James Barnes? (Part I)

State changes its mind on dismissal in case pending at Florida Supreme Court.

State takes opposing positions on whether the Florida Supreme Court should review new statute.

BREAKING: James Barnes waives all claims ahead of execution.

Joseph Zieler sentenced to death following 10-2 jury recommendation.

Barnes Warrant: Scheduling Order does not reflect longer warrant period.

YNW Melly Trial: The State's discovery violation and jurors affected by testimony

Warrant: Background on James Barnes's Case

BREAKING: Death Warrant for James Barnes

Timeline of Florida's Capital Sentencing Scheme

Florida Supreme Court stays two Hurst resentencing proceedings in Wakulla County

BREAKING: Broward County judge denies defense motions for mistrial in YNW Melly trial.

Motion for mistrial pending in YNW Melly trial

Florida's four executions so far in 2023

Duane Owen Executed 6/15/2023

Owen Execution: DOC briefing schedule and questions about Dr. Lazarou's bias

BREAKING: SCOTUS denies Owen's petition for certiorari.

BREAKING: Federal court denies Duane Owen's petition.

Owen Warrant Update: State responds at SCOTUS

Why do all Florida death cases go to Justice Thomas?

Owen Warrant Update: Petition filed at SCOTUS

Owen Warrant Update: Federal court denies emergency stay

Owen Warrant Update: State claims headed to SCOTUS and a new federal claim

BREAKING: Florida Supreme Court denies Owen's appeal one day after briefing closed.

Gov. DeSantis approves legislation compensating Robert DuBoise for wrongful conviction

Owen Warrant: Briefing complete at Florida Supreme Court

Owen Warrant: Litigation update as of June 7, 2023, at 8:00 a.m.

Owen Warrant: Litigation update as of June 6, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.

BREAKING: Florida Supreme Court denies Owen's requests for relief.

BREAKING: Bradford County trial court finds Duane Owen sane to be executed.

The history of Rule 3.811

Updates from Broward County

Owen Warrant Update: After two days of testimony, Bradford County ruling expected by Tuesday.

Owen Warrant Update: Bradford County hearing in recess until tomorrow.

Owen Warrant Update: Owen's counsel files motion in Bradford County 5 hours ahead of hearing.

Owen Warrant Update: Litigation continues in two Florida courts.

Duane Owen Warrant Update: Hearing Thursday on Owen's competency for execution

History of Duane Owen's mental illness, Part IV

History of Duane Owen's mental illness, Part III

History of Duane Owen's mental illness, Part II

History of Duane Owen's mental illness, Part I

Florida's death penalty since 1976

Owen warrant litigation pending in two courts.

Owen Warrant Update: Gov. DeSantis lifts temporary stay of execution.

Juries recommend death under new statute in two penalty phases.

Owen Warrant Litigation: Notice of Appeal filed at Florida Supreme Court

BREAKING: Owen execution temporarily stayed pending Commission's examination

Length of time on Florida's death row

Warrant Litigation: The primary issue is Owen's competence for execution.

Owen Warrant: Trial court issues orders

Judge declares mistrial in Volusia County resentencing cases.

Duane Owen: Warrant litigation update

Podcast on Florida's new capital punishment legislation

The jury votes in Florida's 30 death-row exoneration cases.

Appellate court overturns Volusia County ruling and says 8-4 applies.

Duane Owen: Updated warrant period

Warrant period confusion

Warrant: Background on Duane Owen's Case

BREAKING: Death Warrant for Duane Owen

More on the Hurst resentencing proceedings

Broward County judge rules that the 8-4 statute applies to new trial.

DeSantis indicates executions will continue.

Analyzing the Hurst resentencing proceedings that remain pending

Darryl Barwick Executed 5/3/2023

Darryl Barwick's claims remain pending at SCOTUS on morning of scheduled execution.

Pinellas County seeks death in two high profile cases.

BREAKING: Gov. DeSantis signs capital sex crime legislation.

Week of May 1, 2023

Michael Wayne Jones receives 4 sentences of death.

J.B. Parker resentenced to life.

Florida Supreme Court denies Barwick's claims late Friday.

Barwick's claims remain pending ahead of Wednesday execution.

What happened to the capital sex crime bill?

Volusia County judge says 12-0 law applies in resentencing already underway

Barwick complains about warrant process.

What happens now?

BREAKING: 8-4 legislation becomes law.

Senate approves capital sex crime legislation

Executions since Hurst in 2016

A lot ahead this week

Prison Tour, Part III

What happened in 2016? (Part V)

House passes capital punishment legislation.

Louis Gaskin Executed 4/12/2023

Nearing the end.

Prison Tour, Part II

Update on Senate Capital Sex Crime Bill; Warrant Litigation Update

What happened in 2016? (Part IV)

Warrant Litigation; Legislation Update; Crosley Green Back to Prison

Media Roundup; Legislation Update; Clay County case

Prison Tour, Part I

The Latest Death Warrant: Darryl Barwick

New Death Warrant: Darryl Barwick

What happened in 2016? (Part III)

Prison Tour, Preface; Litigation Updates

Warrant Briefing Frenzy; Visiting FSP During a Warrant Period

More Legislation Updates

Capital Sentencing Legislation Updates; Litigation Updates

Additional Resources

Senate to Reconvene on SB 450 Today

10-2 Amendment to Capital Sentencing Bill

Media Roundup

What happened in 2016? (Part II)

Senate Committee Hearing on Capital Sentencing; DOC Notice of Proposed Rule; Gaskin Warrant Appeal

Legislative Update: House Subcommittee Hearing on Capital Sexual Battery; Gaskin Warrant Update

Legislative Update: Senate Committee Hearing 3/20; Justice Polston Resigns

Legislative Update: Capital Sexual Battery Senate Bill Amended & Upcoming Hearings

What happened in 2016? (Part I)

Legislative Update: Drug Bills Seek to Expand Capital Murder

Legislative Update: House Justice Appropriations Committee Hears HB555

Gaskin Warrant: Preparing for Warrant Litigation

DeSantis Signs Second Death Warrant of 2023

Recent Clay County Case: An Example of the Potential Effects of Proposed Statute

More on Deterrence: A Large Majority of 2023 Mass Shootings in Death Penalty States

First Committee Hearings on Jury Recommendation Bills

Supreme Court of Florida OA Delayed - Leon Davis, Jr.

Legislature seeks to expand capital punishment in Florida despite U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Proposed legislation would impose the lowest standard in the country for capital sentencing.

Coming soon