THOMAS H. PROVENZANO, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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This is a dissenting opinion arguing that the constitutionality of the death penalty itself is not the issue, but rather the method of execution is subject to constitutional review for cruel and unusual punishment.
The dissenting justice argues that the constitutionality of a method of execution must be judged against the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment found in the Florida and federal constitutions.
[1] Execution by lethal injection does not constitute cruel and/or unusual punishment when the procedure is properly performed and supported by competent, substantial evidenc…
[2] A presumption exists that members of the executive branch will properly perform their duties in carrying out an execution.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe case concerns the method of execution for Thomas Provenzano, who was sentenced to death. The dissenting justice writes to address the scope of leg…
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PER CURIAM.
Thomas H. Provenzano, a prisoner under sentence of death, appeals the circuit court’s denial of his motion for postconviction relief. We have jurisdiction pursuant to article V, section 3(b)(1) of the Florida Constitution.
There have been a number of decisions released in the last year regarding Proven-zano’s case, and the facts and procedural history of those decisions will not be recited again in this opinion.1 After this Court’s most recent decision, see Provenzano v. State, 760 So. 2d 137 (Fla.2000), the Governor, on May 30, 2000, signed another death warrant for Provenzano. On June 7, 2000, Bennie Demps was executed. On June 15, 2000, Provenzano filed a motion for postconviction relief in the circuit court alleging, among other things, that the lethal injection procedure followed in the Demps execution constitutes cruel and/or unusual punishment.
The circuit court below held a two-day hearing in order to give Provenzano an opportunity to present testimony relating to the Demps execution. The hearing included expert testimony from both parties as well as eyewitness testimony from individuals who were present during the Demps execution. At the conclusion of the hearing, the circuit court denied Provenza-no’s motion.
Provenzano raises four issues in this appeal. Three of the issues are procedurally barred and do not merit further discussion.2 The remaining claim is divided into two subclaims: (1) the circuit court erred in finding that Florida’s lethal injection procedure does not violate the Eighth Amendment, and (2) the circuit court violated Provenzano’s right to due process by denying him the right to call pertinent and necessary witnesses or to allow for an extension of time to establish his claim. We find no merit to either of these arguments.
In Provenzano v. State, 739 So. 2d 1150 (Fla.1999), this Court stated that there is a presumption that the members of the executive branch will properly perform their duties in carrying out an execution. The circuit court determined that there has been no showing of abuse or cruel or unusual punishment in this case. There is competent, substantial evidence in the record to support this conclusion. See Blanco v. State, 702 So. 2d 1250, 1252 (Fla.1997) (“As long as the trial court’s findings are supported by competent substantial evidence, ‘this Court will not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court on questions of fact, likewise of the credibility of the witnesses as well as the weight to be given to the evidence by the trial court.’ ”). Therefore, we hold that execution by lethal injection does not amount to cruel and/or unusual punishment.
Finally, the testimony of members of the execution team was excluded by the circuit court pursuant to the public records exemptions found in sections 922.10, 922.106, and 945.10(l)(e), (g), Florida Statutes.3 In Bryan v. State, 753 So. 2d 1244, 1250-51 (Fla.2000), this Court held that these public records exemptions were facially constitutional. It would have been helpful to this Court had there been record evidence of the qualifications of those medical personnel present and their testimony regarding the preparation for the administration of the lethal injection.4 However, in this case, absent any demonstration of overriding constitutional concerns, and in light of the eyewitness testimony relating to the procedures that were followed in the Demps execution, we find no reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm the order below and deny the motion to stay.
It is so ordered.
HARDING, C.J., and WELLS, PARIENTE, LEWIS and QUINCE, JJ., concur. SHAW, J., dissents with an opinion, in which ANSTEAD, J., concurs.
. See Provenzano v. State, 751 So. 2d 37 (Fla.1999); Provenzano v. State, 750 So. 2d 597 (Fla.1999); Provenzano v. Moore, 744 So. 2d 413 (Fla.1999); Provenzano v. State, 739 So. 2d 1150 (Fla.1999).
. The following claims are procedurally barred; (1) newly discovered evidence establishes that Provenzano is innocent of the death penalty; (2) newly discovered evidence establishes that Provenzano is not guilty, and had the jury known of this evidence it probably would have found that the State had not carried its burden to prove Provenzano's sanity beyond a reasonable doubt; and (3) Pro-venzano was deprived of due process at his capital trial when his jury was not instructed that when he raised insanity as an issue in the case that the Slate bore the burden of proof and was required to prove Provenzano's sanity at the time of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt just like every other element of the offense.
. These sections were recently amended by the Legislature to provide that the death sentence be executed by lethal injection. See chs. 00-1, 00-2, Laws of Fla. (signed into law by the Governor on Jan. 14, 2000). The amended statutes provide that the identity of "any person prescribing, preparing, compounding, dispensing or administering the lethal injection is confidential and exempt” from the public records requirements. Ch. 00-1, § 1, Laws of Fla. . We do not foreclose that the trial court could hear, in camera, evidence from witnesses who were present during the procedures preparing for the lethal injection and could hear the qualifications of those persons who performed the procedures related thereto. Any record evidence should be sealed pending a determination of this issue by this Court.
SHAW, J.,
dissenting.
In my opinion, Thomas Provenzano is incompetent to be executed. The trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that he suffers from a delusional belief that he is Jesus Christ and that this is the real reason he is being executed. See Provenzano v. State, 760 So. 2d 137 (Fla.2000) (Anstead, J., dissenting). His execution thus violates United States Supreme Court precedent. See Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302, 109 S.Ct. 2934, 106 L.Ed.2d 256 (1989); Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399, 106 S.Ct. 2595, 91 L.Ed.2d 335 (1986).
Further, I believe that the observations and credentials of the individuals who will be performing the medical procedures associated with lethal injection on Provenza-no should be subject to disclosure. Witnesses to the execution of Bennie Demps should have been subject to in camera examination and, as noted in the majority opinion, the record could have been sealed to protect the identity of the witnesses. In fact, the State was prepared to agree to this examination.
ANSTEAD, J., concurs.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By (19 total)
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Johnson v. State, 904 So. 2d 400 (Fla. 2005)…hat execution by lethal injection constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of both the Florida and United States Constitutions. This claim is without merit and was properly denied without an evidentiary hearing. See Provenzano v. State, 761 So. 2d 1097, 1099 (Fla.2000) (holding that execution by lethal injection is not cruel and unusual punishment); Sims v. State, 754 So. 2d 657, 668 (Fla.2000) (same). The claim is also procedurally barred because it was raised and rejected in Johnson’s first succ…
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Rodriguez v. State, 919 So. 2d 1252 (Fla. 2005)…s raised on direct appeal, the claim is procedurally barred. See Turner v. Dugger, 614 So. 2d 1075, 1078 (Fla.1992). Finally, this Court has rejected similar claims regarding the constitutionality of Florida’s death penalty. See Provenzano v. State, 761 So. 2d 1097, 1099 (Fla.2000) (holding execution by lethal injection does not constitute cruel punishment or unusual punishment or both); Provenzano v. Moore, 744 So. 2d 413, 416 (Fla.1999) (holding execution by electrocution in Florida’s electric chair does not…
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Lightbourne v. McCOLLUM, 969 So. 2d 326 (Fla. 2007)…enges to the lethal injection protocol, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari review. See Sims v. Florida, 528 U.S. 1183, 120 S.Ct. 1233,145 L.Ed.2d 1122 (2000). In the same year Sims was decided, this Court decided Provenzano v. State, 761 So. 2d 1097 (Fla.2000) (Provenzano III), upholding lethal injection as follows: [T]his Court [previously] stated that there is a presumption that the members of the executive branch will properly perform their duties in carrying out an execution. The circuit c…
Previewing 3 of 19 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Penry v. Lynaugh, 492 U.S. 302 (U.S. 1989)
- Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (U.S. 1986)
- Blanco v. State, 702 So. 2d 1250 (Fla. 1997)
- Provenzano v. Moore, 744 So. 2d 413 (Fla. 1999)
- Provenzano v. State, 739 So. 2d 1150 (Fla. 1999)
- Bryan v. State, 753 So. 2d 1244 (Fla. 2000)
- Provenzano v. State, 750 So. 2d 597 (Fla. 1999)
- Provenzano v. State, 751 So. 2d 37 (Fla. 1999)
- Provenzano v. State, 760 So. 2d 137 (Fla. 2000)