Opinion ID: 4195639
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pending Petition for Writ of Certiorari

Text: I would stay Asay’s execution to allow the United States Supreme Court to determine whether it will grant or deny Asay’s pending petition for writ of certiorari from this Court’s opinion in December 2016. Asay V, 210 So. 3d 1. The State’s actions—representing to the Governor that there were no stays on Asay’s execution, while obtaining Asay’s prior consent to an extension in which to file a response to Asay’s petition for a writ of certiorari—should not be condoned. During the nineteen years I have served on this Court, we have never allowed an execution to proceed while there are pending matters in other courts regarding the - 19 - crime for which the defendant was to be executed. Asay is entitled to resolution of his outstanding constitutional claims before being executed. I hope that the United States Supreme Court will intervene to prevent such a clear injustice.