Supreme Court Denies Appeal: Florida Inmate Scheduled for Execution Tomorrow

Florida deathrow, Loran ColePhoto byFlorida Department of Corrections

UPDATE: The 57-year-old was pronounced dead from lethal injection at 6:15p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Raiford.

The Supreme Court of Florida has affirmed the denial of Loran Cole’s motion for postconviction relief, upholding his death sentence. The Court also denied Cole's request for a stay of execution, according to the official case documents.

Cole, convicted in 1994 for a crime in Marion County, had sought relief from his death sentence, arguing that his postconviction claims warranted a new hearing. The Court’s decision, issued on August 23, 2024, marks the final ruling in his case.

With the denial of his motion for a stay, Cole is scheduled to be executed on August 29, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The Governor had previously signed a death warrant, prompting expedited proceedings.

The Court's ruling follows a series of briefings and motions filed by Cole's defense and the State of Florida. On August 13, Cole's legal team submitted a motion to stay the execution, along with an initial brief arguing for a reversal of the lower court’s decision. The State’s response and an amended answer brief were filed on August 15.

The Supreme Court’s order comes after a tight schedule set by the Court for filings and proceedings due to the impending execution. The mandate was issued on August 23, affirming the lower court's decision and the denial of Cole’s public records requests.

As of now, Cole's options for further legal recourse are limited, with potential federal appeals or clemency requests being the remaining avenues.