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Murder Case Demonstrates Sabotage of Justice
With renewed interest in giving convicted murderer Joe Spaziano a new trial. Mello expresses the lack of legitimacy on this movement and specifically addresses the witness who claimed that he lied on the trial 20 years after the case. Mello closes…
Spaziano wins stay of execution
Joe Spaziano, nicknamed "Crazy Joe" was granted a stay of execution from the Florida Supreme Court.. The court ordered a new hearing, that will be held no later than November 15th. Mr. Spaziano has refused to see a state appointed attorney, after…
Florida Supreme Courts grants Spaziano a stay of execution
This article is about a stay of execution granted by the Florida Supreme to Joe Spaziano after Michael Mello refused to send his paperwork to state lawyers.
Spaziano's lawyer slams state probe
Michael Mello confronts the FDLE on their weak case against Joe Spaziano.
Killer requests clemency hearing
Joe Spaziano is seeking clemency after the key witness in the trial doubts his testimony was accurate. Another investigation into the case 21 years later has been authorized by the Governor of Florida.
Governor asked to free 'Crazy Joe'
This is an article describing the admittance that a testimony previously given in trial of Joe Spaziano was false. Spaziano's lawyer Michael Mello has asked the governor to free Spaziano, while the police are certain that Spaziano is still the…
Spaziano asks Chiles, Cabinet for clemency hearing
Joe Spaziano was convicted of torture murder of an Orlando woman and raping another. But he was freed by a Florida Cabinet.
Cutting appeals 'could be Catch-22'
Pan to eliminate state appeals for death row inmates may not speed up the legal process.
State joins death row suit
The article discusses Florida joining the lawsuit against the federal government to stop the federal government from mandating the appointment of lawyers to death row inmates for appeals. The article also accounts for the different opinions of state…
Professor worked on final Bundy appeals
Michael Mello gave advice to Ted Bundy and his legal counsel.
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.
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.
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.
Capital-Case Judges' Override Powers Trouble Lawyer
Attorney Jim Green supports a bill filed by Rep. James Burke that would overturn Florida's law which allows judges to issue death sentences against juries' recommendations.
Individual Rights and Responsibilities
An article about various bills and interests that the Committee on Individual Rights and Responsibilities in the Florida Bar supports.
Panel: Jurors Should Decide the Fate of Killers
An article in support of juries having the final say in death penalty cases. Says that judges should not have the ability to overrule a jury decision.
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.
Working for Free: Lawyers finding death row work demanding
The article describes how when looking to defend a inmate on death row a lawyer could be working around 18 hours a day for three to four weeks. It also alludes to how important it is that these lawyers continue to do this work as 50% of death row…
No One Should Die When the Jury Votes for Life
Newspaper article written by Michael A. Mello, discussing Florida's capital sentencing statute in 1985.