A Florida man has less than a month to live, if court proceedings go as planned. The Florida Supreme Court has set a rapid timeline for proceedings in the case of James D. Ford, whose death sentence is under review as his execution date approaches.
Ford, convicted in 1999 for a brutal double homicide in Charlotte County, Florida, faces an execution scheduled for February 13, 2025, after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant. The high court has ordered that all related legal proceedings be expedited, with strict deadlines for filings and briefs set for late January and early February.
In its recent order, the court directed that any appeals or habeas petitions be filed by January 27, 2025. The court also established deadlines for submitting the record on appeal, as well as briefs on the merits of the case. The initial brief is due by January 29, with the state’s response due by January 31. The final reply brief from Ford’s defense team is expected by February 3. If needed, oral arguments will be scheduled at a later date.
This flurry of activity comes after years of legal challenges and post-conviction proceedings. Ford’s conviction and death sentence were upheld by the Florida Supreme Court in 2001. Since then, his case has been the subject of multiple appeals, including efforts to have his sentence reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied certiorari in 2002.
Ford’s legal team has continued to challenge his conviction and the fairness of his trial in the years following the initial verdict. The Florida Supreme Court’s recent order marks the final stages of this process, with the court aiming to resolve all legal matters before the scheduled execution.
The case has drawn attention as it progresses through the courts, with Ford’s defense team pushing for a final review of his conviction and the death sentence, while the state seeks to carry out the execution. The court’s expedited timeline ensures that all necessary legal proceedings are addressed as quickly as possible, with the execution date now just weeks away.
As Florida prepares for this high-stakes legal battle, attention is focused on whether Ford’s conviction will stand or if new legal arguments will result in a delay or change to the death sentence.
Florida Man Set To Be Executed Next Month
