Browse Items (60 total)
- Collection: Michael A. Mello Papers, Series 1 News Clippings, Binder 2, 1983-1994
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Florida Challenged on Determining Sanity of Condemned Inmates
Determining whether a person is competent to be executed should be left to judges and not governors. Psychiatrists have no real guidelines for examining the competence of a death row inmate.
Florida Court ruling could spare lives of some condemned inmates
The Flordia Court made a ruling to spare the lives of condemned inmates.
Florida kills Viet Nam vet in electric chair
David Funchess was the first U.S. Vietnam Vet to be executed by a state.
Future executions hinge on Supreme Court case
This newspaper clipping is an article detailing how the undecided nature of the Supreme Court case, Lockhart v. McCree, has allowed Mello to successfully appeal for stays of execution for two of his clients on death row.
Girmay Ruling May Affect Use Of Insanity Defense
Haile Selassie Girmay is a man accused of murdering two Dartmouth College students. He may use insanity as a defense, but that defense may be impacted by a ruling from Judge Peter Smith. Smith found that Girmay's taped confession will be permissible…
Graham's gratitude
An article about Florida Gov. Bob Graham's speech at the dedication of the Vietnam memorial and how Graham ignored the last wishes of David Livingston Funchess, a veteran convicted to the electric chair.
Grand Jury Sees Action
In recent months, the court system in the state of Vermont has seen a revival of the Grand jury. While the practice of calling for a Grand jury is legitimate, some question whether affording the prosecution such a powerful tool to indict does not…
Gridlock on Death Row
This Newsweek article uses the failed death row appeal of Warren McClesky by the Supreme Court to bring up complicated issues surrounding capital punishment. Writers argue that the Supreme Court and most in the legal system admit there is racial bias…
He's a jailhouse lawyer-and a condemned man
With new evidence, a man on death row may be released. He was convicted of the murder and rape of two women, confessed, and has withdrawn his confession to pursue his innocence.
Individual Rights and Responsibilities
An article about various bills and interests that the Committee on Individual Rights and Responsibilities in the Florida Bar supports.
New trial for Martin requested
Newspaper report on the 1985 request for a new trial for Nollie Lee Martin, convicted of murder in 1978. Martin's lawyers, including Michael Mello, cite the defendant's pre-existing brain damage in their request.
Killer escapes execution again 11 years after widow's murder
The 90-pound, 94 year old widow was raped, beaten and stabbed to death in minutes. Nearly eleven years later, her convicted assailant’s battle for life continues as his lawyers keep winning delays in court.
Killer Loses Life-term Appeal
An article recounting the murder of Florida police officer John Kennedy, and the two trials and life-term sentencing of the accused murderer Willie Clayton Simpson.
Last-minute strategy aims for Bundy stay
Mello argues that there is a good case for a potential stay of execution for Bundy.
Lawyers Argue Over Executing Young Slayers
An article on the execution of juveniles in the state of Florida by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Legal Scholar on Death Row Fights to Halt Own Execution
Legal scholar Joseph Giarratano appeals to the Supreme Court in an attempt to commute his death sentence and save his life.
Let juries decide on capital punishment
A letter to the editor by Michael A. Mello about Florida's somewhat confusing capital punishment statute and the influence of legislators and the Supreme Court.
Letters: Death penalty law
A letter to the editor of The Washington Lawyer in response to an article titled "The Last Defense" by John Greenya which critiqued the stance of the article in relation to criminal justice, specifically referring death penalty cases.
Lynch law justice
A magazine article that discusses the United States Supreme Court's decision on attorneys' usage of peremptory challenges for minority jurors when the defendant is also a minority.