[FADPUpdate] DP News and Actions

[melliott3 at aol.com]

Friends,

This week, the appeal of Death Row inmate, Ian Lightbourne, based on 
the botched execution of Angel Diaz, was denied by the 5th Circuit 
Court in Ocala.  Judge Carven Angel inexplicably withdrew his earlier 
lethal injection concerns of "unnecessary and needless infliction of 
pain and lingering death" and lifted his injuction on Lightbourne's 
potential execution.  His retreat from his earlier decision was not 
related to new evidence or events in the courtroom.  The Florida 
Supreme Court will hear hear oral arguments on Oct. 11 on both the 
Lightbourne and the Mark Schwab (execution date Nov. 15) appeals.

More news on this decision is available at: 
http://www.fadp.org/news/newsindex.html.

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Good news!

There were two executions stayed today.  Joseph Lave - Texas and Ralph 
Blaze Jr. - Kentucky.

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Watchdog Blog

"Gainesville Sun staffers Nathan Crabbe and Amy Reinink investigate 
wrongdoing, expose corruption and reveal consumer fraud.  Send 
whistleblower tips to watchdog at gainesvillesun."

Please check out this new blog headed "Did executed inmate suffer?"

http://watchdog.gainesville.com/default.asp?item=675114

Nate Crabbe is one of only a handfull knowledgeable Death Penalty 
reporters in Florida.  He witnessed the botched Angel Diaz execution 
and takes issue with Judge Carven Angel's decision that Diaz's 
execution was "painless and humane."  Nate asks people to post comments 
on "What do you think about the Angel Diaz execution? ... If you have 
any other issues with prisons or executions that you think we should 
investigate, email us at watchdog at gainesvillesun.com."

Nate's reporting has been factual and professional.  Not many reporters 
are willing to thoroughly investigate these issues.  If you have a 
comment for the blog or information he can use, please submit it.

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>From Equal Justice USA:

Tell the Justice Department, "NO" to Fastrack on Executions

On the grounds of an obscure provision in the renewed Patriot Act, the 
Justice Department has proposed new rules that would give states the 
power to "fast track" the death penalty process.

These new "fast track" rules will give the Attorney General the sole 
power to decide whether states are providing decent lawyers to poor 
people facing execution.  We need only look at the disastrous period of 
Alberto Gonzales as the country’s highest law enforcement official to 
see how vitally important it is to keep matters of life and death out 
of politicized hands.  The rules also cut appeals even for people who 
may be innocent and create tight deadlines that will pressure judges to 
make life and death decisions with haste.

The Department of Justice has provided a short public comment period, 
ending September 24th.  You can easily add your voice in opposition to 
these rules here.  Your message will also be sent to your 
representatives in Congress, as only another act of Congress can stop 
the Attorney General from having sole say regarding adequate defense.

ACT NOW to stop these dangerous rule changes.

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/quixote/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12454&t=ejusaweb.dwt

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Ron McAndrew Speaking Out in the Press

The Florida Catholic News, www.thefloridacatholic.org will feature an 
interview with Ron McAndrew, former Florida State Prison Warden, now 
speaking out against the Death Penalty.  It will be published later 
this month and FADP will post it when it is available online.

Murder Victims Families for Human Rights (MVFHR) has an interview with 
Ron McAndrew.  It can be read by going to www.MVFHR.org and clicking on 
"Publications" and then "Newsletters" and finally, "Issue #5".

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FADP will be sending another FADPUpdate with upcoming events in Florida.

Shine the light,

Mark Elliott, Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, FADP.org

2840 W. Bay Drive, #118
Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
(727)215-9646
mark at fadp.org










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