Timely Justice Act of 2013

By Melissa E. Holsman

TCPalm.com

Condemned inmates could spend fewer years on death row and have less time for appeals under a bill being championed by state Sen. Joe Negron, which aims to speed up the death penalty appellate process.

Dubbed the “Timely Justice Act of 2013, the bill’s goal, according to Negron, R-Stuart, is to allow an inmate the opportunity to appeal a sentence of death in capital cases, but for the legal matters involved to be decided in a quicker manner than under judicial rules currently in place.

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NEWSFLASH: TEMPORARY STAY!!! of Paul Howell execution.

February 25, 2013 — The U.S. Court of Appeals of the 11th Circuit issued a stay for Paul Howell until the merits of his appeal can be briefed and heard.

Congratulations to his attorneys, Michael Ufferman and Sonya Rudenstine!

Faith Community Responses to the Death Penalty

FAITH COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO THE DEATH PENALTY

Inspired by a suggestion and some ground work laid by Rev. Emory Hingst, several TCADP members put the finishing touches on a booklet of  statements on the death penalty from approximately twenty different faiths.  Nancy Smith Fichter and Robert Fichter worked to get as many statements as possible and to obtain the most current available.  We printed 350 booklets and are making sure that every member of the Florida Legislature, Governor Rick Scott, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, all have a copy.  Click the link to download a copy of this booklet published by TCADP as part of our lobbying effort.

Faith Comments 2-4-13

View live action: House Criminal Justice Committee meeting 2 pm

If you can’t make it to this meeting then view it online.

Here’s the link for the House Broadcasts.You will have to click on the link and then scroll down to the 2 pm Criminal Justice Subcommittee around 2 p.m. It’s a live broadcast.

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/HouseCalendar/broadcast.aspx

News Alert

Dear Friends,

The TCADP Board has a lot of news to share.

1) First, we share the sad news that Governor Scott has signed another death warrant. Paul Howell is scheduled to die by lethal injection at Florida State Prison at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26th. We will keep you posted with any news of appeals.

2) We are watching two bills in the Florida Legislature. Senate Bill 148, introduced by Senator Thad Altman, requires a unanimous jury for a death sentence verdict. Florida is one of only two states that do not require a unanimous decision by a jury. House Bill 4005, introduced by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, abolishes the death penalty in Florida. Both legislators will need our help with calls and letters during the legislative session. We will let you know when action is needed.

3) The TCADP board has been hard at work on an important booklet. “The Faith Community – Responses to the Death Penalty” is a compilation of statements on the death penalty from approximately twenty different religions. It will be used in a variety of ways, but primarily to lobby the legislature. We plan to have 300 printed at an approximate cost of $1 each. As you know, we rarely ask for donations, but would greatly appreciate any contributions toward this important project. If you are able, please send any donations to: Terry Farley, TCADP Treasurer, 132 Ferndale Drive, Tallahassee 32301. Donations are not tax deductible. Any amount is appreciated.

4) Agnes Furey, TCADP board member, has recently published a book comprised of letters written by her and by Leonard Scovens, the man serving a life sentence for the murder of Agnes’s daughter and grandchild. Agnes saved Leonard Scovens from a death sentence and ultimately became his friend. “Wildflowers in the Median: A Restorative Journey into Healing, Justice, and Joy” can be purchased on Amazon and in local books stores where it has sold out several times.

Nancy and Robert Fichter will host a book signing with Agnes Furey on Sunday, February 10 at 3 p.m. at their home at 710 Waverly Road. Agnes will read from her book and her friend, Thomas Wilson, will read the part of Leonard Scovens. Light refreshments and beverages will be offered. Please put this on your calendar. We will send a reminder and details later.

Sheila Meehan
TCADP Board
www.tcadp.net
and on Facebook

Three items

Dear Friends,

We have three important items to share.

1) Governor Rick Scott signed a death warrant for Manuel Pardo, Jr. He is scheduled to be killed on Tuesday, December 11th. Oral argument is tentatively scheduled at the Florida Supreme Court for Wednesday, December 5th. We will keep you posted.

2) John Ferguson who also had a death warrant signed by Governor Rick Scott has a federal court stay at this time. We will let you know if his status changes.

3) This month we will gather again to sign holiday cards for every person on Florida’s Death Row. For so many of these men it is the only mail they will receive all year. Nancy Smith Fichter and Robert Fichter will once again open their home to us for the card signing on Saturday, November 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, November 18th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Fichters live at 710 Waverly Road. Please join us; all are welcome.

Sheila Meehan

TCADP Board

www.tcadp.net

ANOTHER DEATH WARRANT

Friends,
Gov. Rick Scott has signed a Death Warrant for Manuel Pardo Jr. His execution is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11 at 6pm ET. Manuel Pardo Jr. has been on Death Row for 24 years. Pardo, a former police officer, was sentenced to Death in Dade County in 1988 for nine “vigilante-style“ killings that took place in 1986. From the former Florida Commission on Capital Cases: “Pardo admitted he intentionally killed all nine of the victims because he believed them all to be drug dealers who ‘have no right to live.’”
“…have no right to live”? Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong?
Please TAKE ACTION!!! Contact Governor Rick Scott and ask him to STOP SIGNING DEATH WARRANTS.

Shelia Meehan
TCADP board member

NOW!

Dear Friends,

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected three separate applications filed by John Ferguson’s attorneys to attempt to stay his execution. Then late last night the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued an order granting a temporary stay. John Ferguson will be alive for at least two more weeks. A small group of Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty held a vigil outside the Governor’s Mansion at 6 pm last night when it was not certain if the execution was taking place. Read More

The Death Penalty is a Cancer on Our Nation’s Justice System

The Death PenaltyIs a Cancer on our Nation’s Justice System

 Stephen Hanlon

Steve Hanlon, attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Holland & Knight, will speak on the death penalty from a national perspective.

Hanlon was Chair of the Death Penalty Moratorium Project of the American Bar Association and Chair of the Constitution Project.  The Moratorium Project researched and reported on the death penalty in eight states, including Florida, and found serious flaws in every state.

“In determining who gets the death penalty,” Hanlon said, “all too frequently, it seems to be not the person who has committed the worst crime, but the person who has the worst lawyer.”

“We just do not have confidence in the capital justice system after studying it,” Hanlon, told ABC News. “Capital defense systems are being underfunded, and unqualified and under-resourced lawyers are defending death row inmates.”

Monday, October 29

7 p.m.

 O’Brien Hall

St. Thomas More Co-Cathedral

900 West Tennessee St.

Tallahassee, FL 32304

Sponsored by Tallahassee Citizens Against the Death Penalty

   www.tcadp.net

NO STAY!!!

We are very sorry to report that, in an unusual move and in a divided opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals has lifted the U.S. District Court’s stay of the execution of John Ferguson. The U.S. District Court had issued the stay in order to hear arguments on Friday that Ferguson is incompetent to be executed. It is now possible that the execution of John Ferguson could proceed as previously scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 6pm ET unless the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes.
We will send out an update as soon as more information comes in. Here is the latest news.

Please TAKE ACTION!!!
PLEASE contact Governor Rick Scott and ask him to convene the Board of Executive Clemency to commute the death sentence of John Ferguson to Life in Prison with No Parole, because he is incompetent to be executed.
Gov. Rick Scott – Phone: 850-488-7146
Email: Rick.Scott@eog.myflorida.com

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