Jeffrey G. Hutchinson v. Florida, et al.
AdministrativeLaw DueProcess Punishment
Whether due process requires more than the arbitrary truncation of pending substantive review by an unnoticed death warrant signed midway through active constitutional litigation, and whether a state's death penalty scheme violating fundamental fairness by providing advance notice only to prosecution and victims' families constitutes a constitutional violation
1. As the dissent below highlights, d oes “due process require [] more” than what has occurred in this death warrant case, including the unnoticed truncation of pending substantive review to accommodate an expedited schedule created by the arbitrary signing of a death warrant midway through active constitutional litigation ? 2. Where a s tate’s death penalty scheme vests in the Governor sole and absolute discretion for the timing, selection, and signing of a death warrant, does it violate fundamental fairness for the prosecution and victims’ family to receive at least 10 days’ advance notice of a 31day death warrant, where the defense is not notified until hours after the warrant is issued ? 3. Can a state opt out of any and all consideration of whether a particular death sentence violates the Eighth Amendment due to the aggregate facets of th at individual’s character and record, including catastrophic mental impairments resulting from his heroic military service ? ii LIST OF DIRECTLY