USA - James Aren Duckett (FL)

USA - Florida. Update on the Duckett case: decision postponed until 8 April

April 3, 2026:

April 3, 2026 - Florida. Update on the Duckett case: decision postponed until 8 April, after the expiry of the current death warrant

Florida Supreme Court orders briefing after circuit court denied further DNA analysis
After the circuit court denied his request for further analysis of the DNA samples available, Duckett appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, which scheduled briefing past the warrant period.

James Duckett’s execution was scheduled for March 31 but was stayed pending DNA results. After those results came back inconclusive, the stay was extended for further litigation on DNA-related issues.

The case then went back to the circuit court for litigation on the DNA. After the circuit court denied Duckett’s requests, Duckett appealed the ruling to the Florida Supreme Court, where Duckett now has three cases pending. The Court’s scheduling order outlines briefing past the current warrant period.

On Wednesday (April 1), the circuit court denied Duckett’s request for further analysis of the DNA samples available in a short Order.

Although Defense argued that the Florida Supreme Court’s Order Staying Execution contemplates the analysis it now requests, the order does not indicate any testing beyond what was already ordered by this Court. The results of the testing have now been reported, and no further testing remains to be done, nor is further testing possible.

On Thursday (April 2), Duckett appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, opening a new case.

Shortly after the appeal was filed, the Court issued a scheduling order for the new DNA-related appeal.

The Order outlines the following schedule: Initial Brief: April 7, Answer Brief: April 8, Reply Brief: April 8.

The warrant period in Duckett’s death warrant issued February 27 expires on April 7 at noon—which is before the briefing in the DNA-related case will be complete. Therefore, for Duckett’s execution to proceed (if the Court affirms the circuit court denial), Gov. DeSantis will have to re-issue the death warrant with a new warrant period.

https://fladeathpenalty.substack.com/p/duckett-warrant-florida-supreme-court-143