Florida Seeks 15th Execution in 2025 Amid Legal Appeals

Florida is set to carry out its 13th execution of 2025 with Victor Tony Jones, convicted of a 1990 Miami-Dade double murder, whose lawyers argue that abuse suffered in a violent juvenile reform school and intellectual disability should exempt him from the death penalty. Gov. Ron DeSantis has also scheduled the 15th execution this year, that of Norman Mearle Grim Jr., convicted of the 1998 murder and sexual battery of his neighbor, with appeals expected to be filed. Grim's case is notable for evidence of serious mental health issues that were excluded during trial, raising calls to commute his sentence or grant reprieves due to lack of adequate legal representation. Additionally, Samuel Lee Smithers is scheduled for execution on October 14, marking Florida's aggressive pace in capital punishment, leading the nation with 13 executions so far and projected to surpass previous records. The state's rapid execution schedule has sparked debate over the death penalty, especially concerning defendants with histories of abuse or intellectual disabilities, and the adequacy of their legal representation. Florida's death penalty activity is part of a broader national context where executions have increased in 2025, with Florida, Alabama, and Texas leading the numbers.