No. 25-6746

Ronald Palmer Heath v. Florida, et al.

Lower Court: Florida
Docketed: 2026-02-06
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
IFP
Tags: eighth-amendment lethal-injection maladministration method-of-execution pleading-requirements severe-harm
Key Terms:
DueProcess Punishment Securities
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Is a narrowly tailored Eighth Amendment claim based on a State's documented, repeated maladministration of its chosen method of execution subject to the same pleading requirements as a challenge to the constitutionality of the method of execution itself?

2. Does a petitioner sufficiently allege a substantial risk of severe harm for a standalone Eighth Amendment maladministration claim by proffering (1) undisputed records showing a State's pattern of significant deviations from its the execution protocol, such as th e repeated use of expired and inaccurately dosed lethal injection drugs, and (2) a medical expert's opinion that such deviations if repeated will likely result in severe pain to the petitioner?

3. May the proposed alternative in an Eighth Amendment maladministration case include review and safeguards to ensure future adherence to the protocol, rather than an entirely new method of execution?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Is a narrowly tailored Eighth Amendment claim based on a State's documented, repeated maladministration of its chosen method of execution subject to the same pleading requirements as a challenge to the constitutionality of the method of execution itself?

Docket Entries

2026-02-10
Petition DENIED.
2026-02-10
Application (25A892) referred to the Court.
2026-02-10
Application (25A892) for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is denied. The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied.
2026-02-09
Response to application from respondent Florida filed.
2026-02-09
Brief of respondent Florida in opposition filed.
2026-02-09
Reply of Ronald Heath submitted.
2026-02-09
Reply of petitioner Ronald Heath filed.
2026-02-09
Reply of applicant Ronald Heath filed.
2026-02-06
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed.
2026-02-06
Application (25A892) for a stay of execution of sentence of death, submitted to Justice Thomas.

Attorneys

Florida
Scott Andrew BrowneOffice of the Attorney General, Respondent
Ronald Heath
Sonya Margaret Rudenstine — Petitioner