Opinion ID: 1597640
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Request for Additional Public Records Relating to Lethal Injection

Text: In his motion for production of public records to support his claim that lethal injection constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, Walton sought all information that in any way related to lethal injection, specifically enumerating an additional sixty-one documents or categories of documents relating to execution by lethal injection. Walton's request was made pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.852(i), which limits postproduction requests for additional records. The record conclusively demonstrates that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying this claim because the records requested were neither relevant nor reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence for this claim. See Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.852(i)(2)(C) (requiring production of records upon finding that the additional records sought are either relevant or reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence). Foremost, as explained in connection with our discussion of lethal injection, production of these records is unlikely to lead to a colorable claim for relief because the challenge to the constitutionality of lethal injection as currently administered in Florida has been fully considered and rejected by the Court. See Tompkins, 994 So.2d at 1090; Power, 992 So.2d at 221-23; Sexton, 997 So.2d at 1089; Henyard, 992 So.2d at 129-30; Schwab, 969 So.2d at 321-26; Lightbourne, 969 So.2d at 349-53. Walton has not alleged any specific problems with Florida's lethal injection protocol following the Schwab and Henyard executions that might support a different Eighth Amendment claim than the one previously rejected in Lightbourne. See Tompkins, 994 So.2d at 1090. Thus, the record contains competent, substantial evidence that supports the circuit court's decision to deny the request. Accordingly, for the reasons set out above, we affirm the trial court's summary denial of Walton's successive postconviction motion. It is so ordered. WELLS, PARIENTE, LEWIS, and CANADY, JJ., and ANSTEAD, Senior Justice, concur. QUINCE, C.J., recused. POLSTON, J., did not participate.