Robert Dunham

Executions are Up but the Sky is Not Falling The Execution Frenzy by Death Penalty Zealots has not Translated to Increased Public Support for the Punishment

My latest DP3 analysis — Executions are Up but the Sky is Not Falling. dppolicy.substack.com/p/executions... @8thamendment.org @assoecpm.bsky.social @deathpenaltyaction.bsky.social

Judge orders Tennessee to turn off inmate's heart-regulating implanted device at execution A judge is ordering state officials to turn off a death-row inmate's heart-regulating implanted device to avert the risk that it might try to shock him during his execution by lethal injection schedul...

Judge orders Tennessee to turn off death-row prisoner Byron Black’s heart-regulating implanted device at execution. apnews.com/article/exec...
@apnews.com @tndeathpenalty.bsky.social @kelleyjhenry.bsky.social @stacyrector.bsky.social #deathpenalty

A heart implant could make Tennessee's next execution painful and prolonged. Prison officials argue they don't have to disable the device. Tennessee's next execution is scheduled for Aug. 5, and this time, there are even stronger fears about the death becoming torturous.

A heart implant could make Tennessee’s next execution painful and prolonged. Prison officials argue they don’t have to disable the device. wpln.org/post/a-heart... @wpln.bsky.social @tndeathpenalty.bsky.social @kelleyjhenry.bsky.social @stacyrector.bsky.social #ByronBlack #deathpenalty

The Abortion Prosecution No One Is Talking About A test case in Texas shows the next frontier for "abortion abolitionists": homicide charges

The Abortion Capital Murder Prosecution No One Is Talking About. contrarian.substack.com/p/the-aborti... contrarian.substack.com @pregnancyjust.bsky.social #Texas #deathpenalty

This is another case of the death penalty as the canary in the coal mine of the assault on democratic institutions. The first Trump administration initially tested out this strategy during its 2020-2021 execution spree. @8thamendment.org @amnesty.org @hrw.org

Trump reshaped the Supreme Court. Now emergency appeals are helping him reshape the government President Donald Trump has achieved significant victories in the Supreme Court during the first six months of his second term.

Trump reshaped the Supreme Court. Now emergency appeals are helping him reshape the government. apnews.com/article/dona... @apnews.com @shermancourt.bsky.social

No cuffs: Texas death row loosens solitary confinement for first time in years A new program in the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas, allows death row prisoners to mingle outside of solitary confinement.

No shackles, no cuffs: Texas death row loosens solitary confinement for first time in years. houstonchronicle.com/news/investi...
@houstonchronicle.com @keribla.bsky.social @texasdefender.bsky.social #deathpenalty

“Texans should be outraged that the court has scheduled an execution date for a demonstrably innocent man. Everyone who has taken the time to look at the evidence has reached the same conclusion: Nikki’s death was a terrible tragedy. Robert did not kill her. There was no crime.”

Statement from defense counsel — Court Schedules October 16 Execution for Robert Roberson, Innocent Man Convicted in Texas “Shaken Baby” Case. docs.google.com/document/d/1... @texasdefender.bsky.social @wtiusa.bsky.social @innocenceproject.bsky.social @cifsjustice.org #deathpenalty

Emails Reveal Oklahoma Attorney General Agreed to Release Richard Glossip In an explosive new court filing, Glossip’s attorneys accuse Gentner Drummond of reneging on a plan negotiated in 2023.

Emails Reveal Oklahoma Attorney General Agreed to Release Richard Glossip. theintercept.com/2025/07/16/g... @theintercept.com @lilianasegura.bsky.social @jordansmith.bsky.social @wtiusa.bsky.social @innocenceproject.bsky.social #deathpenalty

Tennessee death row inmate asks court to disable defibrillator before execution A Davidson County judge held what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind hearing over how the state will handle the scheduled execution of Byron Black.

Tennessee death row prisoner Byron Black to ask court Monday to disable defibrillator before execution. fox17.com/news/local/h... @tndeathpenalty.bsky.social @kelleyjhenry.bsky.social @stacyrector.bsky.social #deathpenalty

Death row inmate set for execution asks for clemency Attorneys for Ralph Menzies, who is set to be executed Sept. 5, are seeking clemency from the state parole board, citing his mental health and comments from an initial judge.

Utah death row prisoner Ralph Menzies, set for execution, asks for clemency. ksl.com/article/5134... @kslcom.bsky.social #deathpenalty

Attorneys for Ralph Menzies seek clemency, ask death penalty to be commuted to life sentence. abc4.com/news/local-n... @abc4utah.bsky.social #Utah #deathpenalty

Alabama lawmaker seeks to broaden already expansive death penalty statute by adding a 22nd basis to seek death. wdhn.com/news/alabama... @eji.org @alabamaarise.bsky.social

Robert Roberson Faces New Execution Date in Controversial ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’ Case The new date comes after Ken Paxton took over the case that could lead to the nation's first execution based on the contested diagnosis.

Robert Roberson Faces New Execution Date in Controversial ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’ Case. texasobserver.org/robert-rober... @texasobserver.org @michellepitcher.bsky.social @texasdefender.bsky.social @wtiusa.bsky.social @innocenceproject.bsky.social @cifsjustice.org #Texas #deathpenalty

'Texans should be outraged': Execution back on for death-row prisoner who has strong innocence claims. usatoday.com/story/news/n... @usatoday.com @texasdefender.bsky.social @wtiusa.bsky.social @innocenceproject.bsky.social @cifsjustice.org #RobertRoberson #deathpenalty

The Court also denied relief to Toney Davis in a successive post-conviction proceeding that had raised issues based upon newly obtained microscopic slides from the autopsy that challenged the listed cause of death. supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/down... @fadp.bsky.social #Florida #deathpenalty

Donald Williams was resentenced to death after an initial nonunanimous 9-3 death sentence. At resentencing, he waived both a jury and the presentation of mitigating evidence. The court upheld his sentence. supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/down... @fadp.bsky.social #Florida #deathpenalty

Timothy Fletcher was originally sentenced to death despite a nonunanimous 8-4 jury vote. In his resentencing, the new jury found no mitigating circumstances and the judge imposed death. The court affirmed. supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/down... @fadp.bsky.social #Florida #deathpenalty

The Florida Supreme Court has issued opinions affirming the convictions and sentences of three death-row prisoners. supremecourt.flcourts.gov/Opinions/Mos... @fadp.bsky.social #TimothyFletcher #DonaldWilliams #ToneyDavis #deathpenalty

Florida has executed Michael Bell. Death was pronounced at 6:25 p.m. Eastern. He was the 26th execution in 2025. 25 of those executions have been in jurisdictions that, as states or territories, practiced slavery. @fadp.bsky.social #deathpenalty

Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagan dissented from the denial of a stay and would have granted the petition for writ of certiorari to review what procedural rules govern the timeliness of claims arising out of the prosecution's suppression of exculpatory evidence. #MichaelBell #SCOTUS #Florida

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Michael Bell's petitions for review and applications to stay tonight's execution in Florida.
supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
supremecourt.gov/orders/court... @fadp.bsky.social @deathpenaltyaction.bsky.social @8thamendment.org #deathpenalty

Mr. Bell’s lawyers filed this application for stay of execution in connection with their petition to review his case. supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25... @fadp.bsky.social #Florida #MichaelBell #deathpenalty

His petition for writ of certiorari asks SCOTUS to review the Florida federal court’s refusal to consider new evidence that prosecutors had wrongfully withheld in his case. Here’s a link to the petition. supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25...
@fadp.bsky.social #MichaelBell #deathpenalty

Yesterday, Michael Bell’s lawyers filed a second petition asking SCOTUS to stay today’s scheduled execution to review his case. supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?...
@fadp.bsky.social #Florida #deathpenalty

Florida Supreme Court also affirms Steven Wolf's death sentence. fladeathpenalty.substack.com/p/florida-su... @fadp.bsky.social #deathpenalty

Florida Supreme Court affirms Michael Jones' death sentence On Thursday, as part of its regular release of opinions, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed Michael W. Jones' sentence of death of direct appeal.

Florida Supreme Court affirms Michael Jones' death sentence. fladeathpenalty.substack.com/p/florida-su... @fadp.bsky.social #deathpenalty

The Florida Attorney General’s office filed its brief in opposition to a stay of execution under a separate docket number. Here’s that filing. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25... @fadp.bsky.social #MichaelBell #SCOTUS #deathpenalty

Mr. Bell has not yet filed his response brief to the Florida prosecutors’ arguments. @fadp.bsky.social #MichaelBell #SCOTUS #deathpenalty