No. 25-5476

Leigh Valorie Ford v. Florida

Lower Court: Florida
Docketed: 2025-08-27
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
IFP
Tags: constitutional-interpretation florida-constitution indefinite-imprisonment judicial-oath life-sentence rule-of-lenity
Key Terms:
DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2025-11-07
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a life sentence without a definite release date violates Florida's constitutional prohibition on 'indefinite imprisonment'

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

1. What was the Framers' of the Florida Constitution trying to do when they wrote Article I, Section 17 that prohibits “indefinite imprisonment ”? 2. Is being placed in prison for the rest of one's life, with an unlimited date, constitutionally forbidden by the Florida Constitution Article I, Section 17 which prohibits “indefinite imprisonment ”? 3. Does “indefinite imprisonment ” mean being placed in prison for the rest of one's life, and because the Rule of Lenity and Plain Language has to be used when determining the correct interpretation, Is not the court mandated to use the definition that favors the accused? 4. State Constitutions are derived from the United States Constitution, does this not in turn violate the United States Constitution when a state's statute violates a provision or prohibition within the State's constitution? 5. When taking a judicial oath, does not every judiciary swear or affirm they will support the Constitution of the United States and of Florida? (or whatever state they represent) 6. What can be done to correct the indefinite imprisonment sentence of life, that is unconstitutional by the Florida Constitution Article I, Section 17 that forbids “indefinite Imprisonment ”?

Docket Entries

2025-11-10
Petition DENIED.
2025-10-09
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
2025-08-04
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 26, 2025)

Attorneys

Leigh Valorie Ford
Leigh Valorie Ford — Petitioner