Governor Crist signed another death warrant today. Richard Henyard is now scheduled to be killed on Tuesday, September 23rd at 6:00 p.m.

The Commission on Capital Cases has compiled a list of 19 “warrant ready” prisoners. A news report today stated that earlier this year, Crist asked for a list of “about five death row inmates who have served the longest or committed the most heinous crimes so he could sign warrants ordering those executions.”

We will keep the website updated as things develop.

Sheila Meehan
Chair, TCADP

Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum both say that favorable court rulings in the Schwab case — and that his lethal injection went off without incident — mean more frequent executions. Both Crist and McCollum said more timely executions represent greater justice for victims.

Since 2004, 62 prisoners were added to death row. In that same time, the state has carried out eight executions. In part, that’s because of an 18-month hiatus when the state’s lethal-injection methods were studied, changed and vetted by the courts, a gap that ended with Schwab’s execution.

“It would be realistic to assume the pace will pick up and Florida will be conducting executions more frequently, as it should be,” said state Sen. Victor Crist, a Tampa Republican and an architect of the state’s system for representing death-penalty defendants and a part of legislative efforts to set execution methods.

A spokeswoman for McCollum said state and federal court decisions in Schwab’s case mean the state is on firm legal ground to initiate further executions with the lethal-injection procedures now in place.

Now, Victor Crist said, it depends on the governor.

“We could do one a month if he wanted to,” Victor Crist said.

Another lawmaker on the state’s Commission on Capital Cases said it’s more likely Florida will have regular executions without a rush of them.

“I think you will still see a slow march toward the death penalty,” said state Sen. Dave Aronberg, a Greenacres Democrat. “I don’t think you’re going to see a run on the death penalty, I think you will see it used but used judiciously. The Schwab case was evidence of that. This was a case that deserved capital punishment.”

The bad new first: Although there are ongoing appeals on behalf of Mark Schwab, he is scheduled to be killed by the State of Florida on July 1st. We will keep you posted on the outcome of these appeals and plans for a vigil for Mark in front of Gov. Crist’s mansion on July 1 and for a memorial on July 2nd for Mark and for Junny Rios-Martinez.
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The good news: there are two important events coming up in the next 10 days.

#1 On Friday, June 20th there will be a fund raiser (only $10) for the Innocence Project of Florida. This event is to help add dollars to the funds for those people who were wrongly accused and who will finally get out of prison with nothing in their pockets and no place to live. This is truly an emergency fund and is extremely worthwhile. If you cannot attend, please consider sending a contribution. The website is: www.floridainnocence.org

The Innocence Project of Florida will host Innocence Rocks!, an evening of food, ’60s and ’70s music by The Big Kahunas, a silent auction and a cash bar. The event, 7:00 p.m. – midnight at the American Legion Hall at Lake Ella, is being held to raise money for IPF’s Exoneree Emergency Fund.
You can purchase advance tickets by contacting Toni Shrewsbury, at 850-561-6767. You can also see the beautiful flier for the event at http://www.floridainnocence.org

Innocence Rocks!
June 20, 2008
7:00 p.m. - Midnight
American Legion Hall at Lake Ella
$10 per person (tax deductible)
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#2) The FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights is proud to present:
Mark Schneider, Senior Vice-President, International Crisis Group and former Director of the Peace Corps will speak on: “Chaos in Afghanistan.”

Human Rights & National Security in the 21st Century Lecture Series
Monday, June 23, 2008
12:30 PM
FSU College of Law — Rotunda
(425 W. Jefferson St.)

Mark Schneider, will kick off a summer lecture series that will examine human rights interests and national security imperatives within the context of the U.S.-led “War on Terror.”

Schneider will address the current conditions in Afghanistan, the ongoing military engagement by the United States and the role of humanitarian assistance and foreign aid. *This special event is free and open to the public. Public parking available across the street at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center — A light lunch buffet will be available from noon to 12:30 while it lasts. Q & A will follow the lecture.

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Sheila Meehan
Chair, TCADP

The U. S. Supreme Court lifted the stay of execution for Mark Schwab. Governor Charlie Crist scheduled the killing for July 1. According to newspaper reports, Gov. Crist said, “It’s a time that makes sense.”

Sheila Meehan, Chair TCADP

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case on lethal injection (Baze) and will likely stop executions around the country until they have had the opportunity to hear the case and make a decision some time in 2008. We will continue to monitor this and post information as it comes out.

If you would like to read the opinions from the Florida Supreme Court, they can be accessed at the link below. Look for Lightbourne v. McCollum and Schwab v. State of Florida: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/opinions.shtml#2007

Sheila Meehan - Chair TCADP

Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau