No. 25-6862

Martez Abram v. Mississippi

Lower Court: Mississippi
Docketed: 2026-02-20
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
IFP
Tags: aggravating-circumstances arson capital-punishment eighth-amendment felony-murder sufficient-evidence
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

1. Was the application of Mississippi's felony-murder aggravating factor and circumstance sufficient to meet the mandate of the Eighth Amendment to meaningfully narrow the scope of crimes punishable by death, where the arson which raised the homicides to capital murder and also served as aggravating circumstances at sentencing was committed after the completion of the homicides, did not facilitate the homicides, and was not facilitated by the homicides?

2. Was the evidence sufficient beyond a reasonable doubt to find that the two homicides were committed "while the defendant was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit, any . . . arson," as required by Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(5)(d)?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether Mississippi's application of its felony-murder aggravating factor satisfies the Eighth Amendment's requirement to meaningfully narrow capital crimes when the arson occurred after the homicides and did not facilitate them, and whether the evidence was sufficient to prove the homicides occurred during the commission of arson

Docket Entries

2026-02-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including April 22, 2026.
2026-02-25
Motion of State of Mississippi for an extension of time submitted.
2026-02-25
Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 23, 2026 to April 22, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2026-02-13
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due March 23, 2026)
2025-12-31
Application (25A754) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until February 13, 2026.
2025-12-19
Application (25A754) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from January 14, 2026 to February 13, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Martez Abram
Stacy Leah FerraroStacy Ferraro, Petitioner
State of Mississippi
Parker Alan Proctor Jr.Mississippi Attorney General's Office, Respondent