Opinion ID: 1882336
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Extended Time on Death Row

Text: In issue fifteen Rose maintains that because he had been continuously incarcerated since October 27, 1976, and has been under a sentence of death since May 13, 1977, sentencing delay in his case violates the state and federal constitutions. In essence, he contends that prolonged stay on death row constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. We have addressed a similar claim in Hitchcock v. State, 578 So.2d 685 (Fla.1990), wherein the appellant argued the delay between his arrest and resentencing violated his right to a speedy trial and his due process rights and constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The Court found the claim to be without merit. See id.; see also Hitchcock v. State, 673 So.2d 859, 863 (Fla.1996) (rejecting renewed claim of delay in sentencing). Likewise, we find Rose's argument here is without merit.