Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed the death warrant for Florida Death Row inmate William Van Poyck and right now Mr. Van Poyck’s execution is scheduled for June 12, 2013.

However, whether or not that Execution will happen is an open question.  On May 24, 2013, a formal motion to stay the execution was filed

 The Death Penalty Information Center has compiled its annual report on capital punishment in the United States.

According to the DPIC, the four states of (Florida (21), California (14), Texas (9), and Pennsylvania (7)) accounted for 65% of the country’s death sentences.  Texas, however, led the nation once again in the number of executions, with fifteen

The Florida Innocence Commission met this week at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando;  it was the last meeting for the Florida Innocence Commission since Governor Rick Scott vetoed the bill that would fund the FIC and allow it to continue.

Read the details on how and why Governor Rick Scott killed the Florida Innocence

Terry Lenamon is making the following transcripts online from his recent death penalty case, where he and his defense team successfully avoided the death penalty for Joshua Fulgham:

Voir Dire – Defense

Defense Opening – Trial

State Opening – Trial

State and Defense Opening – Penalty

State Closing

Defense Closing and State Rebuttal

Please contact

As part of our invitation to other bloggers to guest here on the Death Penalty Blog, Terry and I are happy to publish the following article sent to us by Charles Sipe of the career-advice website, Criminal Justice Degrees Schools. Here, without edit or change, is James Madieros’ article for your consideration. Thanks, Charles

Last week, the jury returned its recommendation in the Grady Nelson trial, after spending only one hour deliberating whether or not they would vote for the death penalty.  They did not.

A Horrific Tragedy in 2005

Grady Nelson, 53, did not get a death sentence, instead he will serve life behind bars without parole.  This, even