News / FJP Releases
FJP Statement on Tonight’s Scheduled Execution of Edward Thomas James
March 20, 2025 (Florida) — Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the upcoming execution of Edward Thomas James in Florida, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection tonight, Thursday, March 20th at 6 P.M. EST. Mr. James pled guilty to the state’s charges of murdering Betty Dick and Toni Neuner in 1993. He was sentenced to death by a jury vote of 11-1, with one juror voting against this sentence.
Florida’s lethal injection protocols have been a subject of significant controversy and legal challenges. Since 2017, Florida has relied on untested drugs such as etomidate and potassium acetate for use in executions, which have been argued to ‘create an unacceptable risk of severe pain,’ violating the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement ahead of Florida’s planned execution tonight:
“Barring last minute intervention, the state of Florida will execute Mr. James with lethal injection tonight. If Governor DeSantis allows this execution to go forward as scheduled, he will be taking an extraordinary step that will only serve to undermine public trust in the courts, our criminal legal system, and ultimately the rule of law. Every citizen of this democracy should be outraged that any state government anywhere can justify ending a human life if even one single juror votes against it.
“The execution of Mr. James is made even more troubling by the state’s cruel and unusual use of untested lethal injection drugs, adding yet another layer of unconstitutionality to an already flawed process. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of both Edward James and his victims, Betty Dick and Toni Neuner. Justice is not served through a system that cuts corners, disregards safeguards, and accepts the irreversible risk of executing an innocent person. Florida must put an end to this deeply unjust practice.”
BACKGROUND
In 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation allowing juries to impose a death sentence with the support of only 8 out of 12 jurors—lowering the standard for capital punishment and making Florida an outlier among death penalty states.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Ramos v. Louisiana, state courts are required to have unanimous jury verdicts to find an individual guilty in a criminal trial, reinforcing the principle that convictions must be based on full jury consensus to uphold due process and fairness. Florida’s departure from the push for greater unanimity raises serious concerns about fairness, consistency, and due process in the administration of the death penalty.