Florida Supreme Court issues stay on the lethal injection of convicted murderer
March 8, 2010
Florida: The Florida Supreme Court has issued a stay on the execution of David Johnston who was originally set to be executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, March 9. Johnson was convicted of the murder of 84 year old Mary Hammond in 1983, but the court, however, has found evidence that may prove Johnson to be legally mentally retarded in Florida. The state of Florida has laws in place which prevent the executions of individuals declared mentally retarded by the age of 18. The new evidence is based on Johnson's taking of a supposedly more accurate IQ test that would put him at 61, 9 points below the state's 70 point threshold. However, a hearing has been ordered to take place at the Orange Circuit Court to investigate the discrepancy in the defendant's IQ scores.[1]
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
