Time flies quickly
when you’re counting down what is expected to be the last days of your
life. When Florida governor Rick Scott signed my death warrant on
November 30th, scheduling my execution for February 11, 2016 I had 73
days of life guaranteed ~ but as I awoke this morning, I realized I’m
now down to only 25 days. I smiled as I remembered song on my mp3
player by country music legend Johnny Cash called “25 Minutes to Go” ~
it starts with the words, “They’re building a gallows outside my cell
and I’ve got 25 minutes to go,” then in his southern accent continues,
“and the whole town’s waiting just to hear me yell ~ I’ve got 25 minutes
to go.”
There’s a lot of
truth to those words. Although I’m blessed by the support of many from
almost every corner of the world, I’m constantly reminded that the
reason I’m counting down these final days until my appointed moment of
death is because there are just as many pushing just as hard to see me
dead. Few even think about the amount of resources that the state of
Florida, on behalf of the taxpayers, are investing in this process with
one singular objective… to see me dead. And at times it does feel like
the “whole town is waiting to hear me yell.”
I find myself
thinking about the bigger picture a lot lately ~ although I am
comfortable in my own sense of spirituality and I am convinced that my
eternal soul (consciousness) will continue far beyond this so-called
life, I guess when it comes down to it, nobody really knows.
It bothers me that so
many people are all but consumed with the need to inflict death upon me
under the pretense of administering justice as by their own choices,
they inflict scars upon their own souls. It seems to create a spiritual
paradox that I struggle to reconcile with ~ by methodically seeking my
death at a specific appointed time and by a specifically appointed
manner, I’m given that rare luxury of that opportunity to seek
forgiveness and make spiritual peace, while those most affected by the
crime are not.
It’s only too easy to get fixated on our own perspective
and not even consider another’s. But I do wonder about those who are so
deliberately pursuing my death. Each of us, without exception, are
inherently imperfect creatures and in our own way we each struggle
through this journey we call life. Most of us try to do the right thing ~
just as I tried to do the right thing the night when all this happened.
But our perspective of what is right and what is wrong, is too often
clouded by more primitive responses, such as the need to seek vengeance,
only under the pretense of administering justice. But if the sanctity
of life is to mean anything at all, then what could be a more deliberate
act of murder then putting an innocent man to death through a state
sanctioned execution.
Maybe it’s just me,
but I worry about those responsible for pursuing my death. As they
gather around the gallows just to hear me scream, do they even for a
moment think about their own spiritual accountability? I recall the
words Jesus spoke from the cross as they executed the Son of God ~
“Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”
This past week was a pretty good week, all things
considered. Beginning on Monday and through Wednesday I was able to
receive visits with my youngest son Cary Michael. On Tuesday my parents
joined him for the visit, and on Wednesday my sisters Debbie and Mary
came. For three days I was able to escape the reality of my pending
execution and bask in the warmth of their love. We talked and we laughed
~ and we cried. It pained me greatly to see what all of this is putting
them through. And I wonder whether those so determined to pursue my
death spend even a moment thinking about the pain they are inflicting on
so many others. As a society we have a very constrained definition of
“victims,” as my own family and friends suffer just as equally and by
any objective definition of the word “victim,” they are victims too.
On Tuesday January
12th the United States Supreme Court issued its long anticipated ruling
in Hurst v. Florida. By an 8 to 1 majority they declared that Florida’s
death penalty is unconstitutional, as under the Sixth Amendment a jury
must make the findings necessary to impose death, not a judge. What this
means is that every person sentenced to death in Florida ~ including
the 80 men and women already executed since 1974 ~ were illegally
sentenced.
But it’s not that simple. Through the years the “politics
of death” have compelled the courts to judicially create procedural
rules that strongly discourage retroactive application of new rulings.
Under the pretense of promoting “finality,” new court decisions
generally will not be applied to older cases that were already upheld on
the first round of appeals.
Suddenly my own case has been catapulted to the front lines
in the fight over the death penalty itself. Because I am the next
person scheduled for execution following the Supreme Court decision, the
disposition of my own case will now decide the fate of all those
sentenced to death in Florida ~ and very well may decide whether the
death penalty in America survives.
Quite simply, if I win and my February 11th execution is
called off, then all 390 other death sentenced prisoners in Florida will
rely on that victory to vacate their own death sentences. If I lose,
then Governor Scott and the State of Florida will continue to
aggressively pursue executions.
Those interested in following this issue can easily read all the appeal briefs filed, which will be available at my website www.southerninjustice.net.
Already the top death penalty lawyers have joined forces to fight this
issue. Anyone can also watch the “oral arguments” before the Florida
Supreme Court at 9:00 a.m. on February 2, 2016 both live and taped at www.gavel2gavel.org.
Additionally, all legal filings are available on the Florida Supreme
Court website by pulling up Cary Michael Lambrix v, State of Florida,
case no. SC16-08.
In truth, I’m not happy about my case becoming the test case on this Hurst v. Florida
issue. For 32 years I’ve fought to prove that I am innocent of this
wholly circumstantial (i.e., no eyewitnesses, no physical or forensic
evidence, no confessions) theory of alleged premeditated murder. But now
my consistently pled claim of innocence will be effectively reduced to
nothing more than a footnote as all the attention focuses solely on this
Hurst case. And the reality is that the odds are against me convincing
either State or Federal Courts that Hurst must apply retroactively. As
I’ve said before, it's a runaway train and I’m just along for the ride.
My imminent execution
will generate widespread media attention in light of the Hurst decision
~ I can only hope that the media that follows this story will take a
moment to actually read the history of my case and how the state's own
evidence actually substantiates my innocence.
Michael Lambrix has faced already one execution by the electric chair when a warrant was signed in 1998 He now faces execution by lethal injection on February 11th, 2016 On February 11, 2016 the State of Florida will proceed to put Cary
Michael Lambrix to death by lethal injection, despite the fact that on
January 12th, 2016 the United States Supreme Court, in an unprecedented 8
to 1 decision, declared that the Florida death penalty process is
unconstitutional. All eyes will now be on the Lambrix case - the first execution since the landmark Hurst v Florida case was released. The Florida Supreme Court will hear ‘oral arguments’ in Lambrix’s case at 9.00 am on February 2, 2016.
Today Michael Lambrix comments about the particularly unusual circumstances surrounding his imminent execution, read more HERE
Florida Department of Corrections execution chamber
January 22, 2016 - Brief filed by the American Civil Libeties Union Capital Pinishment (ACLU-CPP) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida (ACLU-FL) in support of Michael Lambrix. Read itHERE
The
New Year began with a vengeance. I can’t even remember the last time I
really got sick, but I spent the entire first weekend of the new year
sick as a dog; to the point where I didn’t even want to get out of my
bunk. I didn’t get anything done and I am so far behind on writing
letters to all those who have sent me cards and letters that I doubt I
will ever catch up. And so let me begin this update with my thanks to
all those that sent cards and letters as they truly mean so much.
In an earlier update I
asked for a few jokes ~ and I got a fair share, so many thanks for
those too. But I gotta tell you all, the best laugh I got as I read
through them was that I didn’t realize just how many really bad jokes
there are out there! (Big Smile!). Really, thanks for all the jokes as I
did get a few really good laughs. Surprisingly nobody sent me any
really dirty jokes, nor did I get any blonde jokes which is probably as
good thing as with my mom and sister coming for a visit next week, I
won’t be tempted to get myself in trouble by sharing a blonde joke or
two.
Having survived the
New Year’s weekend fighting my way through a cold like i’ve never had
before, we then went into the week counting down to Oscar Bolin’s
execution. It wasn’t easy being housed down here on death watch only a
few feet away as this act of deliberate murder unfolded and as most of
you know, on January 7th they did kill Oscar Bolin. But I would like to
think that he was at peace in the end and far more worried about how his
wife would cope than his own fate. He showed true dignity and strength
and I have to believe that he is now in a better place. But his wife,
family, and friends will continue to struggle with the loss, so please
keep them in your thoughts.
As an involuntary
witness to the events that transpired, it wasn’t easy as they proceeded
to carry out this act of deliberate murder with me housed in my own
solitary cell just a few feet away. At the same time, though, I have to
commend the prison staff as from the warden on down, they went out of
their way to keep Oscar comfortable and the stress and anxiety to a
minimum.
Much to my surprise,
on Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Secretary Dixon (second highest Dept of
Corrections official) personally came down to death watch, accompanied
by Warden Palmer, and spoke to Oscar (and briefly to me) and then a few
hours before the scheduled execution FDOC Secretary Julie Jones sat down
at Oscar’s cell front and talked with him too.
But for all the
efforts they put into sterilizing this execution process, I’m left
wondering whether it compromises the significance of their objective.
Has all of this become so routine to them, that they no longer
appreciate that they are methodically taking a human life?
They had Oscar
scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday (January 7th) and at precisely 4 p.m. they
removed him from his death watch cell and escorted him to the east side
of the wing, where they have a single cell used exclusively for housing
the condemned prisoner until the courts clear the way for the execution
to proceed. But when they took Oscar to that holding cell, they were
still waiting for the US Supreme Court to decide whether they would
allow Oscar’s claim of innocence to be heard. As a result, everything
remained on hold until shortly before 10 p.m.
Once the Supreme
Court finally gave the go-ahead, they moved quickly, taking Oscar from
the holding cell into the adjacent execution chamber only a few feet
behind the cell I remained in, and with practiced precision, they
quickly strapped him into the gurney and put him to death. Just that
quickly, it was over ~ and no court was willing to allow review of his
innocence claim before they killed him.
Execution chamber at Florida State Prison
For obvious reasons, I
didn’t get to sleep that night, but sometime in the early morning hours
I did fall asleep ~ only to be awaken a few hours later and told that I
had to immediately move from cell Three (the end cell) to cell One, the
cell that Oscar had only recently vacated a few hours earlier and I
really didn’t want to move into that cell so quickly, but it wasn’t like
I had a choice.
That Friday (January
8th) morning I has a legal visit and quickly threw my personal property
into a pillow case and got ready to walk the few steps up to cel one.
Before that legal visit, I was allowed a short social phone call with my
long time friend Jan Ariens (in England) and I can’t begin to say how
much it meant to hear a friendly voice just at that particular time.
See, here’s the thing
~ for all the perception of how well we are treated on death watch ~
and we are treated exceptionally well compared to “normal” prison life ~
the undeniable truth is that they treat us as they do to facilitate
this “process.” I appreciate being treated as they do, but I’m not in
denial ~ I know only too well that they have their own agenda and that
is to keep those facing imminent execution calm and avoid any problems
and so the bottom line is they don’t treat us this good without reason
and that reason is so that when the time comes to kill us, it won’t be a
confrontational process.
It is for that reason
having family and friends there to support you through this becomes so
important just like that Friday morning, the sound of a friend's voice
brought me that measure of comfort I so desperately needed and although
only allowed a few minutes, it brought an unexpected peace to my spirit.
After a long visit up
front with my lawyer’s investigator Lea ~ another friendly face in the
eye of the storm ~ by early afternoon I was on my way back to my death
watch cell and learned that within hours of executing Oscar Bolin,
Governor Scott had already signed yet another death warrant; this time
on Mark Asay, who everyone that knows him calls “Catfish.”
Again, it makes me
wonder whether they realize that they are methodically taking human
lives. Florida’s execution process has become nothing less than that of a
slaughterhouse, each step of the process intended to efficiently move
the line along. No sooner than one person is killed, they move the line
up and sign another warrant with the methodical efficiency of a
slaughterhouse ~ and with 23 executions in a row, you wonder if those
responsible for this process have forgotten they are taking human lives.
When we as a society become so indifferent to that fact that we are
killing people as if they are nothing more than meat delivered to
market, and we do so in such an efficient process, then what does that
say about the society we have become? Should taking any human life
really be this easy? And shouldn’t we all be troubled by the apathy?
And now I’m next,
moved up to the front of the line, with barely a month to go (as of this
writing) and each day brings me one step closer to that scheduled date
of February 11, 2016, when with that same measure of professional
indifference, they will proceed with this machinery of death to end my
own life. And like a head of livestock led to slaughter, I will be put
to death.
This coming week my
lawyers will file the appeal in the Florida Supreme Court seeking a stay
of execution and DNA testing of evidence substantiating my claim of
innocence. Additionally, we will file appeals challenging the summary
denial of my innocence claim in the Federal Court. All I can do is wait
and see if any court will even allow review. All these legal actions
will be posted at www.southerninjustice.net
for anyone who wants to read them. And in closing, I again thank all of
you who have been there for me ~ you are my strength and I am truly
blessed - Mike
Friends
and relatives of Mike Lambrix, who is due to be executed in less than
four weeks, rally in a unique plea to the Governor of Florida to ask to
reconsider allowing a full clemency hearing.
The interview starts approximately 09.52 mins into the programme and
lasts around half an hour. It contains also a phone conversation between
Jan and Mike Lambrix
As I write this it’s
been more than four weeks since Governor Scott signed my death warrant.
It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long since I was moved down to the
very bowels of Q wing, where death watch is. But it has and the coming
weeks will pass just as quickly; if not even more so.
Yesterday I received
word that a long time friend of mine passed away. His name was Robert
Preston ~ we called him “Tree Top” as he was that tall. I first met him
about 30 years ago not long after I was first condemned to death. He had
already been here years longer than I. He was easy to live around ~ not
everybody is in here. Truth be told, I’m sure I have my own moments
too.
Through the years we
played volleyball, basketball, and other games too. Like so many others,
we grew old together in this micro-community that is death row. But as
is the only too common case, a while back Tree Top took a turn for the
worse. They said it was cancer. Over the past year we were a few cells
from each other and his health went quickly. A few month back, towards
the end of summer, they took him to Lake Butler (North Florida Reception
Center) for chemo treatment and he was gone for a while. When they
brought him back, his once tall and lanky frame was barely a bag of
bones and he could no longer even walk. He asked to be allowed to go
back to the death row unit as he knew he was going to die soon and he
wanted to die amongst friends.
As the warden at
Union Correctional Institution escorted me from that housing unit around
noon of November 30 to take me to death watch, Tree Top was one of the
first to holler at me ~ they all knew I wasn’t coming back. Once your
death warrant is signed, you never come back. That’s just how it is.
Years ago the politicians, in their never ending push to expedite
executions, passed a law that made “death warrants” indefinite. This
means that once a warrant is signed you stay on death watch until they
either kill you or the courts grant some form of judicial relief.
Since they passed that law, only two people have survived a
death warrant. Robert Trease technically remains under death warrant
now for about 10 years on what is known as “Phase III.” Both Phase I and
Phase II are when the warrant is active, meaning you either have an
actual execution date set or are under a “temporary” stay. But Phase III
is an inactive warrant status when a court has granted an indefinite
stay and you’re moved back to the regular death row housing area and
received your regular privileges until the court lifts that indefinite
stay of execution.
Paul Johnson also
survived a death warrant as when he was scheduled for execution in 2010
the Florida Supreme Court threw out his death sentences (all three of
them) due to prosecutorial misconduct. He had been on death row since
1981 and was resentenced to death again in 2011. So, Paul is actually
the only person to actually be removed from death watch status after a
warrant was signed under this indefinite death warrant law.
As I write this
today, there are two of us scheduled for execution. Oscar Bolin is down
here on death watch with me. He is scheduled for January 7, 2016 and as
the protocol, today they moved him from Phase I, which is general death
watch (while on Phase I, we keep our personal property, TV, fan, etc in
our cell and it's very much like regular death row housing) to Phase II.
Phase II kicks in when you’re down to the last 7 days. While on Phase
II, they remove all your property from your cell and place an officer in
front of your cell whose only job is to continuously monitor your every
movement 24 hours a day to make sure you don’t attempt to cheat the
state by committing suicide ~ and a few have tried. Hopefully Oscar will
be granted a stay in the next few days. (Note: Sadly, Oscar Bolin was executed February 7, 2016)
All this has me thinking about my own mortality and even
beyond. I like to say that I’m spiritually comfortable and have been for
years. If I were to lay down and go to sleep tonight never again to
wake, I think I’d be in a better place, if for no other reason but that I
cannot imagine any form of hell worse than what I’ve already been
through for the past 32 years.
Death doesn’t really
scare me. My basic theo-philosophy is pretty simple ~ I am unequivocally
convinced that what we call life is the mortal condemnation of an
eternal soul. When it comes down to it, nobody gets out alive and as far
as I can tell the only real purpose of life is to nurture that eternal
consciousness by striving to become something better than this
inherently imperfect being that we are. I am not who I was 32 years ago;
no more than any of us are. I’d like to think that my spiritual
consciousness has grown and evolved into something better than it once
was. So, death doesn’t scare me.
Rather, it’s getting there that causes me pain and torment.
I don’t know what might yet lie ahead in coming weeks, but I find
myself struggling with the uncertainty of those few weeks. I spent a lot
of time thinking about Tree Top and how he slowly suffered until he
finally succumbed to cancer and how hard that prolonged certainty of
death must have been. So many others through the years died of similar
“natural causes” and their slow death was anything but easy.
And now here I am in
relatively good health wondering whether in the following weeks they
will put me to sleep like an unwanted dog. I find myself thinking that
maybe that’s not such a bad way to go when I consider what the
alternatives are, as my other option would be to have my death sentence
reduced to life then slowly grow old until I eventually succumb to that
prolonged agony of a “natural death” in prison.
You see, it’s really
all about perspective ~ like everything else, it really comes down to
how we choose to look at it. Tonight is New Year's Eve and I will go to
sleep before that midnight hour. I have nothing to celebrate and yet I
remain blessed. And despite this endless struggle to find meaning to all
of this, that's what brings me peace.
In the past few days I heard the
voice of someone I love dearly and felt the pain that she felt. I had a
visit with my daughter for the first time in years and watched as she
smiled with uncompromised happiness as she told me about how my
grandchildren spent their Christmas. And for the first time ever I was
allowed to phone my youngest son on his birthday and as I was able to
wish him Happy Birthday, I had a chance to talk to my other 3
grandchildren and they couldn’t see that tear in my eye as my youngest
granddaughter Sophie spoke with such excitement at talking to her
grandpa.
For all of this, I am
incredibly blessed. Many people I don’t even know have sent me cards
and letters wishing me well and letting me know that I am not alone. I
am cast down into a hell few can begin to imagine and as that appointed
hour of my own death draws near, I sit in this solitary cell alone and
yet not alone. And I feel so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful
people in my life ~ and I fear this process will cause them so much more
pain than it will cause me. I wish I could hug each of them and let
them know that no matter how it ends, it will be alright - Mike
Michael Lambrix #482053 Florida State Prison Q wing 7819 NW 228th street Raiford Florida 32026-1100
First of all, I want to thank everyone for the really nice holiday cards and all the positive thoughts as they really help me a lot and I'm truly blessed to know so many are with me - Mike
It’s still quite an
adjustment to be in this cell. After so many years of living in close
proximity to so many others, the absence of activity leaves me feeling
even more isolated than what I’ve accepted to be “normal” for solitary
confinement.
That’s an
interesting term… “solitary confinement.” Just what do we mean when we
say someone is in solitary confinement? There’s no doubt that each of us
lives, and even slowly dies, in a small cell by ourselves. But each
cell is on a larger wing with many other cells around. Although
physically separated, we can still talk and in a limited way interact
with others around us ~ if and when we choose to. And equally so, we can
choose not to and retreat back into our own little world.
But it’s different
down here on “death watch” where there are only 3 cells and at least for
now just myself and Oscar Bolin, who is scheduled for execution in a
week ~ hopefully he will receive a stay of execution before that. Unique
to death watch, down here they post a guard in front of the cells all
day and night so what little sense of privacy you have in a regular cell
(where the guards generally are seen only when they make their 30
minute rounds, or when feeding us, or taking someone to visitation or
the yard) is lost.
Funny thing about
death watch is it’s micromanaged to the smallest detail and constantly
under supervision of the bosses. Almost daily the duty warden will drop
by unannounced and ask how we are doing and generally engage in small
talk, which itself takes some getting use to as you just don’t see that
on the regular wing. To be honest, I’ve never been treated better than I
have since being placed on death watch. It’s a completely different
attitude towards us and they actually go out of their way to treat us
with respect and avoid negativity.
But here’s the
thing, everything about this death watch experience leaves you in the
constant and inescapable reality that they are counting down the days
until they will kill you. Not even for a moment are you allowed to
escape that reality. That presence of death hangs heavy over this
environment and every little thing they do to make you comfortable (for
lack of a better word) actually reminds you that you are in this
solitary cell counting down your final days.
A few days ago as I
came back from a visit, as I returned to the wing the death watch
supervisor (a Lieutenant) measured me for my execution suit. It was done
as if it was a casual event they routinely did and not unusual at all.
And yet it was that effort to make it “normal” that itself pressed
heavily on me and stuck in my mind for some time to come. I couldn’t
help but think about what they might be thinking about ~ has measuring a
man for his execution suit lost all significance to them and become
what they consider “normal”?
It was the same thing a few days later (in fact, yesterday)
when the Assistant Warden came down here and casually sat down in front
of my cell and told me that he had to discuss what I wanted for my last
meal and other final arrangements. As if we were talking about the
weather or some other trivial event, he proceeded to go through a small
stack of papers, each one addressing a specific subject relevant to what
seems to be a presumption that I will die. And I found myself responding
in the same manner.
For about 30 minutes the Assistant Warden and I went
through that stack of forms he had as if doing nothing more than
planning a fishing trip. First it was discussing in detail what I would
want for my last meal and I went with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner
(turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with giblet gravy and all the
trimmings, with pumpkin pie and Rocky Road ice cream for dessert) as for
many years now mom and I have had an agreement that when I walk out of
prison she would celebrate my freedom by cooking a traditional
Thanksgiving dinner. And I figure that if I don’t make it, I can at least
have that meal and that thought of sharing it with my parents and loved
ones will be nice.
After we went
through what I wanted for my last meal, we then discussed my funeral
arrangements and what I wanted to be done with my body after they killed
me and who I wanted to leave my property to. I had to think about that
for a moment, although my parents and I have previously discussed this
issue and they already have a burial plot where we will all be together,
the expense of a funeral will be incredibly hard on my parents right at
a time they must deal with my death. However, my options are limited
and I had to give a response so I told him my mom would handle those
final arrangements.
This is all part of the process of deliberately putting
someone to death by state sanctioned execution. Often we hear people
debate whether the particular means of execution is cruel and unusual
and how the history of botched executions causes the person subjected to
execution physical pain.
But nobody ever
talks about the psychological torment of forcing the condemned prisoner
to go through this pre-execution process.
The irony of this is that one
of the most common legal justifications used to impose the death
sentence is that the victim suffered the fear of imminent death, often
defined by a mere moment of realizing they would die. But they never
talk about the weeks and even months that they put the condemned
prisoner through as they await their own death.
I think this process
~ this collective death watch experience is deliberately designed to
slowly erode that instinctive nature to survive, so that by the time the
prisoner actually reaches that final step into the execution chamber
not only does the condemned know what to expect, he (or she) has become
part of that process itself and will passively go along with the
process.
My point is this ~
everything they do once we are placed on death watch is part of a
process that each detail has been meticulously calculated to minimize
any resistance from the condemned prisoner. What does that say about who
we are as a society that we will put so much thought into how we will
deliberately kill another person? If someone was convicted of murdering
another under virtually identical circumstances, we would not hesitate
to call that person a “cold-blooded killer.” But what do we call it when
we, as a society, are doing that much and more?
However, even as I
recognize what’s going on around me, I still find a sense of peace
within myself and have not succumbed to depression and hopelessness.
Most days when they bring mail around I receive not only the cards and
letters from my close friends who each try so hard to support me through
this, but several cards from complete strangers who take the time out of
their own busy days to offer me words of encouragement, and each one
touches me deeply.
Physically I spent
Christmas alone in this solitary cell on death watch; the truth is it
was one of my best Christmas’ ever as for the first time in so many
years I am in touch with members of my family and both my son and
daughter. And my only Christmas wish to locate my son Daniel came true ~
a true miracle. And shortly my younger son and daughter will also come
to visit ~ it will be the first time we have all been together.
Yes, I am facing
death. But even in that cold shadow of death I bask in the warmth of the
love of family and friends. And for that reason, I am blessed.
Michael Lambrix #482053 Florida State Prison Q2301 7819 NW 228th street Raiford Florida 32026-1100
Mike thanks everybody who has sent him cards, letters of support, prayers and wishes! He much appreciates, and is deeply touched by, any way you have reached out to him and feels blessed that so many people care about him. Any messages and comments you may want to leave here will be sent to Mike too.
I’m now on my second
week of my death watch experience with about two months yet to go until
my scheduled execution. With the process they apply in determining whose
death warrant to sign they had to know by signing my death warrant on
November 30th and scheduling my execution for 6:00 pm on February 11,
2016 that it would mean that I will be down here on death watch through
the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays. Obviously, Governor Scott and his
staff had to know that both State and Federal Courts will be out for
the holidays. So, why would they sign a death warrant at this time?
You know it really
doesn’t bother me personally as I wasn’t exactly expecting much of a
Christmas anyways. If Governor Scott and his staff thought by putting me
under an active death warrant over the holidays would somehow inflict
that added measure of misery to a man they intend to kill, then they are
wrong as it won’t really bother me. In some ways, I will actually have a
better Christmas now.
But what does bother
me is how this will affect my family and friends, all of whom did
nothing to deserve this. Talk about a heart of stone and the Grinch that
stole Christmas. I’ll bet Governor Scott gave absolutely no thought
whatsoever to the pain he inflicted upon my parents and children and
sisters and my dearest friends who give so much of themselves to support
me. Nobody ever thinks about how all of this affects those closest to
the condemned.
The last time I was
on death watch in late 1988 it was so much easier as I had no one. ( Read about Mike's stay of execution in 1988) My
family and I were estranged and I had no close friends. Even my three
children were then too young to know what was going on. But in the years
since then I’ve grown close to my mother and stepfather, who for many
years now visit regularly. And my kids are now grown with kids of their
own. And I’m truly blessed with my small group of close friends who so
selflessly give so much of themselves to be there for me. Already this
is causing them so much pain.
Now I find myself
wishing that I were alone again as I don’t want them to have to go
through all of this. Last week when my parents came to visit for the
first time since my execution date was scheduled, I could see the pain
in my mother’s eyes and how much this was taking out of her. My sisters
came with them. I had not seen them in a few years and I could only
watch helplessly as they struggled to fight back the tears and I just
wanted to hug them through it. Once I went on death watch I was no longer allowed regular
visits, but all visits are now non-contact (through glass). I tried to
joke around and make them laugh, but I know they saw right through me…
tears of a clown. I struggle with that conflict ~ I want so much to see them,
but I don’t want them to be hurt by what is yet to come. Everybody
keeps asking me how I’m doing but it’s how they’re doing that concerns
me the most.
When that visit ended I was escorted back to the death
watch floor and before putting me back in my solitary cell they measured
me for the execution suit. You gotta love the irony of that ~ for 32
years I had to wear whatever clothes they would provide, only too often
baggy pants and bright orange shirts. But now that they intend to kill
me they want to buy me a nice new suit that will be custom tailored to
fit me. I guess it’s sort of like dressing a turkey up for the holiday
feast… I got to look good when they lay me out on the gurney in front of
the witnesses. It just wouldn’t be proper to kill a man while he is
dressed in baggy pants and a bright orange shirt. When it comes down to
it, it's all about the ritual, and perhaps that’s the most tragic
commentary of all ~ they’ve carried out this ritual of death so many
times that they’ve perfected every detail and nothing is left to chance.
I once read about how
during the Holocaust, the Nazi's went to great pains to methodically
record every detail of their process. The records were so meticulous
that they even kept records of the records. And it’s the same on death
watch here, as an officer is assigned to the cell front whose only job
is to meticulously record in a green log book, marked with my own name,
everything I do. Even as I write this he sits not more than ten feet
away with that log book in his hands undoubtedly writing down that I am
sitting at my small desk writing. It’s not personal ~ it’s merely his
job. If he didn’t do it, someone else would have to.
The truth of the matter s that I’ve never been treated
better by the prison staff than I am now. From the warden on down,
there’s not even so much as a suggestion of malice in any of them. Given
my previous experience on death watch years ago, I expected some to
deliberately go out of their way to taunt us as they did back then, but
this warden has no tolerance for such misconduct.
The cell I’m now in
is huge and took sometime to get used to. I don’t know what the exact
measurements are but I’d guess that it’s about eight foot by 12 foot,
give or take a few inches. As long as I remain on “Phase II” my personal
property stays in the cell with me, including my T.V. and MP3. My music
continues to be my escape from all else around me and it’s a comfort to
have.
A few night after I was moved down to death watch the light
in my cell went out. Not long after that the toilet clogged up. I’m
told that this particular cell had not been used in a while as the
Governor usually only has one person under an active death warrant at a
time. There’s only three cells down here and Oscar Bolin is in the first
cell about 10 feet away. Both the light switch and the toilet were
fixed the next morning.
When I read about how
the Nazi’s killed the Jews at their own infamous death camps, I recall
how they would place the condemned prisoners in long lines that led to
long buildings and they would be told that it was a shower. Presumably
they had no idea they were actually being led to their deaths in
industrial sized gas chambers and spared that agony of imminent death
until that final moment when once secured in the the large chambers
instead of a shower they were gassed. I wonder how many moments passed
between the realization of imminent death and death itself?
But here in America
we are far too civilized and humane to keep a condemned man in a state
of ignorant bliss until that final moment. Instead, when Governor Scott
signed my warrant on the morning of Monday November 30, 2015 and the
warden then read my warrant to me, instructing me to then initial the
death warrant as an acknowledgement that I received it, I was told that
in precisely 73 days on the evening of Thursday February 11, 2016 I
would be led into the execution chamber and then strapped into a gurney
facing a glass window. At least 20 witnesses will watch as they insert
I.V. tubes in both of my arms and upon signal by the warden, they will
then pump that lethal cocktail of drugs into my arms and stand around
until they pronounce me dead.
The Nazi’s went to
great lengths to spare those condemned to death the knowledge that they
would soon die. Their machine of death was as cold and calculating as
any ever devised by the mind of man at his most evil. But here in
America we don’t engage in any such pretense. Rather, we want those we
condemn to death to know it’s coming and the process is meticulously
structured in such as a way that not even for a moment throughout the
prolonged “death watch” process will the condemned escape the reality
that the clock on the wall is counting down his last days, hours, and
then minutes. The agony of imminent death will not be escaped . And we
call that humane - Mike
Michael Lambrix #482053 Florida State Prison Q2301 7819 NW 228th street Raiford Florida 32026-1100
As all of you know, on Monday November 30 - only hours after the US supreme Court declined review of my new evidence actual innocence appeal, Florida governor Rick Scott signed my death warrant, scheduling my execution for February 11, 2016 at 6:00 PM.
I was immediatelt transferred to the "death watch" housing area on the bottom floor of Florida State Prison, joining Oscar Bolin who is scheduled for execution on January 7, 2016. We are the only two on death watch. All of you, please keep Oscar in thoughs and prayer that something will come through to stop his scheduled execution.
Let me begin by saying I'm alright, you'all should not worry about me. I've known this was coming and I'm both mentally and intellectually ready. By far, my greatest worry right now is how this will affect those closest to me and I truly wish that I could give each of you a big hug right now and hug you all right through all this :-) (big smile). Since all of you closest to me know me only too well, you already know that I work best under pressure and true to form, since they moved me to death watch on Monday, November 30 I've been burning up my ink pen :-) (another smile)
First, let me say that death watch isn't all that bad, as it's like a whole other world down here. I've spent the last 32 years in a 6 foot by 9 foot cage and now I'm in a huge 8 foot by 12 foot cell that's actually super clean. As long as I remain on phase 2 death watch, I'm allowed to keep all my property in my cell as long as it all fits in the one footlocker, so I had to spend 2 days going through my property and sort out all that accumulated through the years - I threw away 2 full boxes of paperwork and old letters and I can't really complain. Like most of us on the row we are allowed so very little and what we do get is hard to let go and we become basically "pack rats". In time it accumulates, so finally being forced to reduce all that's piled up is somewhat liberating. But equally so I will miss being able to re-read old letters from those closest to me. When those moments come, often late at night when I can't sleep, being able to re-read special letters was a form of comfort. They were hard to let go, and that's why so many piled up through the years.
To summarize the death watch procedure; I will no longer be allowed regualr contact visits and will instead only be allowed non-contact (behind glass) visits on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM - but only those on my approved visiting list will be allowed and I can have up to 12 hours each week over those 3 days. All visits must be scheduledat least 24 hours ahead through warden Palmer's office.
Although for obvious reasons I cannot discuss what legal actions will be pursued before they are actually filed I can tell you this - I am confident that my legal challenges will be succesful and am impressed by the unexpected way so many lawyers dropped everything else they were doing to quickly join my legal team as soon as they signed my death warrant. Hopefully, as legal actions are filed, we will be able to quickly post them on my website www.southerninjustice.net
But make no mistake about it, I am taking this seriously and there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that they would kill me despite my innocence. If I've learned anything over the past 32 years it is that few people out there have any clue as to just how corrupt our legal system really is and they will kill the innocent.
We really do have a lot going on and good reason to believe that I will win - and so it really comes down to that age-old saying: "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst". I am allowed regular mail and will welcome all mail..and send me some good jokes so I can have a laugh too! With thoughts and love - Mike
Michael Lambrix #482053 Florida State Prison Q2301 7819 NW 228th street Raiford Florida 32026-1100
Mike, Christmas 2014
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
December 16th, 2015 Founder of the oldest penpal organisation in
Europe, "astounded" that Florida considers executing his friend of 25
years Mike Lambrix, without granting a clemency review http://www.save-innocents.com/15-december-2015-jan-arriens-…
It's that time of year and especially here in Northern Florida we know to expect the onslaught of those micro winged demons that seemingly only exist to eagerly feed off our flesh. More often than not, they will lay in wait until we drift off to sleep, and only then descend down from the dark shadows.
Although we are now allowed a simple small plastic fan to elevate the heat and humidity of the semitropical summers, it still remains too hot to sleep under a blanket or even a sheet. With few exception, we each fall into our fit full sleep wearing nothing more then a pair of boxer shorts - some even choose to wear nothing at all. It's the humidity that makes these long summer months unbearable, and that humidity begins to climb in May then reaches its climax by July and through
August, into September.
Even after 30 years I'm not used to it. Some say that humans are like cockroaches, as we possess the ability to adapt to our environment and survive. I've even said it myself more than once, and for the most past it's true. Looking back to the young man I once was when i first came to Florida death row in the early spring of 1984, I know that I've adapted to this environment and found a way to survive even as too many others around me were broken and died. I am a survivor, although I remain uncertain as to whether that is a blessing or a curse as I know only too well that my misery and suffering will relentlessly continue as long as I still draw any breath and my reprieve will only come after I've drawn my last breath.
Lately I have found myself thinking a lot about death - my death. I suppose that's understandable given the fact that late last year I went through what we call "pre-warrant clemency" which is when the governor assigns the condemned man a lawyer and then they go through that predictable pretense of contemplating whether the condemned man is worthy of mercy and compassion by grant of clemency from the governor, sparing his life.
But in 30 years not even one Florida prisoner has had his life spared by a grant of clemency. It's all a deliberate pretense. Once this morbid charade has been played out, then your name is added to that growing list of those the governor will sign a death warrant on, scheduling your imminent execution. My pre-warrant clemency was submitted in early December, 2014 (click here to read the clemency petition) and it has been undoubtedly denied just as all are without even so much as a meaningful opportunity to present the evidence to be properly considered.
Florida has significantly increased the number of executions carried out in recent years as the current pro-death governor (Rick Scott) is determined to kill more prisoners than any governor in Florida ever has. And once the next execution is carried out, he will have accomplished that goal. There is little doubt that he will then proceed to far surpass it, as governor Scott will be in office until January 2019.
But executions in Florida are on a temporary hold pending review by the Supreme Court on whether the initial lethal injection drug (Midazolam) is sufficient to render the intended victim unconscious before the following two drugs are administered. Legally, if the condemned prisoner is not unconscious before the following two drugs are administered, intended to inflict death, then the prisoner will undoubtedly experience pain and that form of execution would constitute "cruel and
unusual punishment", which is prohibited under long standing Federal law.
A decision on that pending case will be rendered no later than the end of June. The prevailing consensus among legal experts is that the Supreme Court will reject this claim by a marginal 5 to 4 vote, finding that, absent proof that prison officials consciously intended to inflict pain, the inadvertent infliction of physical pain through the alleged failure to render the intended victim unconscious is not sufficient to establish an Eight Amendment violation.
Quite simple, a "botched" execution, no matter how horrid and no matter how much pain the condemned prisoner may have suffered, is not enough - there must be a subjective intent to inflict pain before it arises to that level of becoming a constitutionally intolerable infliction of "cruel and unusual punishment".
Once that issue is decided, it is anticipated that Florida will then again to proceed to carry out its record number of state-sanctioned executions, and as early as July the governor will again proceed to sign a record number of death warrants and I have every reason to believe that my own name is towards the top of that list and that in the foreseeable future (before the end of the year) I will once again be transferred to the Florida State Prison (where executions are carried out) and placed on death watch with no more then 4-5 weeks to go before the state of Florida will proceed to put me to death despite substantial evidence of my innocence.
These are the thought I struggle to escape as I lay on my bunk trying to sleep. But arguably May is the worst month of all, as it takes some time to adjust to the change of seasons. Just a few weeks ago it was almost freezing and I had to hide under a heavy wool blanket to sleep. But now the nights are both warm and humid and for the first time in months I find myself lying there long into the night wearing nothing but my boxer short as that small electric fan sends a gentle breeze my way and still I could not compel myself to sleep.
Then I heard it, that unmistakable buzzing of a small mosquito as it flew close to my head. In the darkness I could not see it, but the minute it would deliberately dive-bomb down around my head, perhaps deriving some sense of pleasure from inflicting that knowledge upon me that it intended to feed off my flesh and resistance would be futile.
Again and again I tried to swat this malicious winged beast from the air, but missed each time. It certainly was a crafty little devil, obviously able to avoid my best efforts and even enjoying this game it played as if biting me and drawing my blood was merely only a reward for a game well played.
Forcing me to anticipate that inevitable infliction was the true intent and instinctively this mosquito knew that tormenting its intended victim would inflict far more then that final act as it is that awareness of imminent infliction that outweighs that final, even merciful, act itself.
As I continued to do my very best to put a stop to this act of insane depravity that only something as evil as a winged beast from the very bowels of hell could inflict, I couldn't help but realize that what this mosquito was doing to me was no different than what the state of Florida planned to do - it wasn't enough to merely put me to death, as part of their ritual was to first make me aware that they intended to kill me and that before I would die, they would demand that I first suffer immense pain.
And as I thought these thoughts, I heard that buzzing once again and in that instant, I killed that beast. At least that mosquito would torment me no more.
For 13 years, Florida’s death penalty
process has been on thin ice at the U.S. Supreme Court. The Legislature
has pretended not to notice even though the state Supreme Court sent an
early warning.
Now, the ice is cracking.
On Monday, the high court agreed to consider whether Florida’s law conflicts with its 2002 opinion in Ring v. Arizona that the jury, not the judge, must determine the existence of aggravating factors to support a death penalty.
Florida law leaves that to the judge,
along with the power to condemn a defendant even without a unanimous
jury recommendation for death. Only Alabama has a law like that.
Although juries are told they must find
aggravating factors in order to recommend death, there’s no provision
for specifying the factors or even how they voted. The judge is left to
infer what they found.
If the U.S. Supreme Court rules
Florida’s peculiarities to be unconstitutional, many if not most of
Florida’s 393 death row inmates might have their sentences–though not
their convictions–overturned. The case is scheduled for argument during
the court’s term beginning in October 2015.
The court could decide the case on
narrower grounds. Convicted murderer Timothy Hurst, who slashed and
stabbed a restaurant co-worker at Pensacola, is also challenging
Florida’s refusal to have the jury rather than the judge determine
whether he is mentally retarded and ineligible for the death penalty.
Then, too, it takes the votes of only
four justices to accept an appeal. There might not be a fifth to do
anything but uphold Hurst’s conviction and sentence.
For now, however, Florida legislators
who favor the death penalty have a decision to make. Do they enact
legislation to require unanimous jury votes and specific findings? That
would moot the Hurst case with respect to future convictions, but it
might lend strength to his claim. Or do they sit on their hands,
pretending that the situation in Washington isn’t serious?
The moral aspect is a separate and
compelling question. Nearly every other state has addressed it either by
having no death penalty, by repealing it, or by requiring the jury to
be unanimous before a life is taken, which is also federal law.
In 27 of the 31 death penalty states,
according to a Florida Senate staff report, “the jury’s decision to
impose life imprisonment is final and may not be disturbed by the trial
judge under any circumstances.
If jurors don’t have to be unanimous, do
they spend enough time and moral capital on debating life versus death?
A 2006 American Bar Association report cautioned Florida that they
don’t.
In Tallahassee, both the House and
Senate have identical bills to conform to Florida’s procedure by
requiring specific jury findings and a unanimous vote. SB 664 by state
Sen. Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, is on the Criminal Justice Committee
agenda but was passed by Tuesday for testimony on the prison scandals.
It remains on the agenda for next week. House Bill 139, by state Reps.
Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, and Clovis Watson Jr., D-Gainesville, has yet
to be scheduled by the first of three committees to which it is
assigned. The legislators had filed the same bills last year to no
effect.
“If you want the Supreme Court to invalidate the death penalty, just sit on your hands,” Rodriguez says.
Death row inmates have raised the Ring
decision in scores of unsuccessful appeals to the Florida Supreme
Court, which has never agreed that it applies here. Individual justices
have repeatedly said that it does. When Hurst’s public defenders argued
it last year, the court’s majority said in effect, “That’s our position
and we’re sticking to it.”
But it was a rare split decision, 4-3, in which the minority agreed with Hurst.
“I continue to believe that, in light of Ring,
Florida’s death penalty statute, as applied in circumstances like those
presented in this case where there is no unanimous finding as to any of
the aggravating circumstances, is unconstitutional,” wrote Justice
Barbara Pariente in a dissent signed also by Justices James E. C. Perry
and Jorge Labarga.
The Florida law spells out 16
aggravating circumstances, among them the defendant having a prior
felony conviction or committing the murder in the course of a robbery.
Some can be assumed automatically–for example, conviction of another
crime is a matter of record–but most have to be supported by testimony
for the judge to invoke them.
In Hurst’s sentencing order, as Pariente
pointed out, there were only two aggravators: a murder that was
“heinous, atrocious and cruel” and committed in the course of a robbery.
But although testimony suggested that Hurst had robbed the restaurant,
he wasn’t convicted on any such count, and there was no way to know
whether the jurors believed the killing could also be characterized as
“heinous, atrocious and cruel.”
Because the jury voted only 7-5 for
death, “the slimmest margin permitted,” Pariente wrote, “it is actually
possible that there was not even a majority of jurors who agreed that
the same aggravator applied.”
The Florida law provides for automatic
Supreme Court review of every capital conviction and death sentence.
According to the clerk’s office, of 296 cases heard from 2000 through
2012, only 60–that’s a mere 20 percent–involved unanimous jury death
recommendations. The court upheld 38 of them. In 32 cases, the jury
votes were 7 to 5 and the court sustained only 17, barely half.
In refusing to apply Ring, the
Florida Supreme Court noted in a 2005 case that the U.S. Supreme Court
had upheld the state’s law against challenges of a similar nature. But
those cases came before Ring, and the high court hasn’t spoken on Florida’s situation since.
In the 2005 case, Justice Raul Cantero’s
majority opinion suggested that “in light of developments in other
states and at the federal level, the Legislature should revisit the
statute to require some unanimity in the jury’s recommendations…
“We ask the Legislature to revisit it to decide whether it wants Florida to remain the outlier state.”
That’s apparently what the Legislature did want. If Hurst wins in Washington, chaos in Florida could be their reward.
Martin Dyckman is a retired associate editor of the St. Petersburg Times. He lives in western N.C.
Just as the dawn of the new year barely broke over that distant horizon that is our as yet undetermined path forward, the phrase “I am Charlie” has become a call of unity throughout the western world as those outraged over the senseless mass execution of journalists and staff of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, fanatically stood as one in zealous protest over this malicious attack upon the exercise of free speech.
In Paris alone, over a million men and women gathered on the Place de la Republique, with millions more around the world marching in solidarity, and with the notable exception of a representative of the United States, the leaders of 40 nations stood hand-in-hand leading this march for freedom. Only later would President Obama publicly apologize for not sending an envoy to represent America, as if it was nothing more than a trivial oversight.
But was it really an oversight, or did America’s absence in this united message that Freedom of Speech cannot be suppressed by acts of violence actually reflect a truth few wish to confront - that like so many other fundamental principles that the western world considers “basic human rights,” America’s commitment to the concept of free speech is nothing more than a smoke and mirrors show intended to project an image that is anything but the reality that exists behind this curtain of manufactured deception.
Not everything is always as it might appear to be - and this is especially true for the perpetuation of propaganda American feeds the rest of the world, too often condemning other countries for their own history of human rights violations while arrogantly exercising their own distorted views that allow America to stand alone amongst the western nations in putting its own citizens to death through the practice of capital punishment, depriving alleged terrorists of any pretense of a fair trial while indefinitely holding them under oppressive conditions of a military base known as Guantanamo Bay. And then there’s the truth that in America today millions of citizens are prohibited from exercising free speech, and those who do dare to speak out against this government sanctioned suppression are subjected to extreme consequences that the rest of the western world would condemn as barbaric and inhumane. And nobody seems to care.
What I’m referring to is the millions of prisoners currently incarcerated in state and federal prisons across America. It is a fact that the United States imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in the world. Florida alone currently incarcerates well over 100,000 men and women under objectively oppressive conditions with thousands held in long term solitary confinement designed to brutally break both body and spirit, for years at a time. Per capita, Florida has more condemned prisoners facing execution than any other state, including Texas and California, and Florida is now aggressively pushing for a record number of executions.
But Florida is indicative of most other states and the federal prison system, as it is common practice to severely restrict prisoners’ exercise of free speech, and uniformly, there are extreme consequences imposed on those few prisoners who might dare to speak out against the system.
My own experience is comparable to that of countless others who have also found themselves targeted for retaliation after they dared exercise this pretense of free speech. After over 30 years on Florida’s death row (please check out: www.southerninjustice.net) I have often been subjected to the consequences that result from speaking out against the abuse of prisoners, on numerous occasions even physically beaten and threatened with death for no other reason but that I refused to remain silent and I continue to refuse to be coerced into silence.
In this particular piece I will focus only on the most recent experiences, which will sufficiently show how “free speech” for millions of Americans is nothing more than a myth - that the very government that claims to be the model of promoting free speech actually systemically suppresses the speech they don’t want the rest of the world to know about. And because we are prisoners, nobody really cares.
Almost a year ago today, Warden Diane Andrews showed up at my solitary cell accompanied by her hand-picked entourage and ordered me to “cuff up” (standard protocol for when any death-sentenced prisoner is removed from their cell). I immediately complied and was then escorted to the other end of the death-row unit and placed in what we call the “Hannibal Lector” cell - a fully enclosed “high security” cell completely stripped of everything except a solid concrete slab comprising a “bunk” and a sink/toilet combo, and nothing else.
I then, and only then, learned that my transgression warranting this extreme punishment was that a few weeks earlier I wrote the Miami Herald newspaper protesting their coverage of the execution of Thomas Knight, aka Askari Muhammad, who was put to death on January, 2014 for killing a guard on Florida’s death row in 1981. Apparently, Warden Andrews subjectively interpreted my letter as somehow constituting a “threat to staff,” thereby justifying this ultra-high security status. I wasn’t that surprised as Warden Andrews had a history of responding in extreme fashion to matters she found inconsistent with her totalitarian agenda, and it wasn’t the first time I personally felt her wrath. (Please read “Holidays in the Hole”)
For the next six weeks I remained in that “Hannibal Lector” cell, and was only finally removed when I was abruptly transferred to Florida State Prison, which many of us call the “Alcatraz of the South.” (Please read “Alcatraz of the South Chap. 1-6) As is only too typical for governmental bureaucrats, it took months before Warden Andrews’ superiors finally got around to reviewing her actions taken against me, and ordered all action terminated upon finding that there was nothing to support any alleged infraction... they concluded that Warden Andrews’ actions were “unfounded.”
Finally removed from this heightened security status and transferred back to the main death row unit at Union Correctional, it came as no surprise to me that numerous Florida newspapers revealed that Warden Andrews was under both state and federal criminal investigation in relationship to staff working under her using excessive force, even killing one inmate by “gassing” him to death. (specifically referred to in “Holidays in the Hole”)
With Warden Andrews under criminal investigation, staff wanted to suppress any further exposure of the systemic abuse of prisoners in Florida. That especially meant silencing those few such as myself that refused to be silenced. Once again, staff unexpectedly showed up at my solitary cell, this time delivering a copy of a “disciplinary report” written against me by Warden Andrews’ Senior Classification officer, Mary Mahoney, alleging that I violated prison rules by allowing my previously published book, “To Live and Die on Death Row” to be sold on a website. There was no dispute that I was not responsible for another party offering my book for sale, but rather they disingenuously interpreted a rule that requires prisoners to inform the mailroom if a book is to be published. My failure to inform the mailroom was itself construed as a “major violation” that resulted in my being once again placed in the “hole” for 30 days, deprived of all but the most basic “privileges” of food and clothing.
These are just a few of the examples of the consequences of exercising “free speech” if you’re a prisoner in America. And my own experiences are only too common throughout the prison system. Although some would argue that the fact I can write about this experience as I am now doing shows that I am allowed to exercise “free speech,” they conveniently ignore that by writing this I will undoubtedly again be subjected to extreme punitive action - and there are very few like myself who will bear this cross - by predictably imposing punishment upon those few who do dare speak out, prison officials deliberately silence the majority and that is government sanctioned suppression of free speech.
It’s a simple truth... free speech does not exist if and when there are consequences imposed upon those who do dare to speak out. And across America today it is the government (i.e. prison officials) that is prohibiting the millions of prisoners in America today from speaking out.
Gathering in crowds even a million strong and proclaiming “I am Charlie” amounts to nothing more than hollow rhetoric devoid of any meaningful substance if at the end of the day the crowds go home an forget about the cause. To allow deliberate suppression of free speech to continue anywhere, especially when imposed upon millions of men and women in America today, should be as aggressively condemned by just as many who marched in the streets of Paris.
But it won’t happen, as even in the western world, while we claim to zealously guard against encroachments on these basic human rights, these same masses remain blissfully oblivious to the same deprivations of fundamental freedoms and basic human rights when they are imposed upon prisoners. This epidemic of apathy undermines that very foundation upon which this illusion of “free speech” stands, as no society can deliberately disenfranchise millions of its own citizens and still call itself a free society.
If you would like to have a free copy of my book, “To Live and Die on Death Row,” you can download it at www.southerninjustice.net In that I am now facing probable imminent execution, I would ask that you sign a petition protesting my intended execution, as I am innocent of the crime for which I have been wrongfully convicted and condemned. To sign this petition, just click HERE
Our Dear Friend Mike Lambrix left us on October 5, 2017. Executed by the state of Florida. He went from the Darkness to the Light.. Where he is there is no hurting, no suffering, and no pain. While we grieve his loss, we are comforted by the fact that he is in a far better place now. We were all very lucky to have had him in our lives and as much as he will be missed by us all, he will remain with us, every day, always..
Mike has left us, but his blog will stay alive, as he wished. Every few weeks one of his writings will be re-posted. Mike started his blog in 2008, but there are essays from even before that time. Also, relevant information, updates and developments about topics close to Mike's heart will be posted here, so while he is not with us, his spirit lives on in this writings and in the hearts of all who cared about him.
Florida Death Row Advocacy group
Mike with his friends, Karen Mutton, Geesje de Jong and Jan Arriens
MIKE'S PRESS CONFERENCE OCTOBER 4, 2017, the day before his execution.
M. Dale S. Recinella, Catholic Correctional Chaplain declares:
"As the state of Florida moves forward on a death warrant for Mr. Lambrix, they are asserting procedural bar against allowing a hearing on his evidence of self-defense and other late discovered evidence of innocence. The purpose of procedural bar in death penalty cases is so the state can kill people without giving them a chance to present late-discovered evidence of their innocence to the court. From a moral standpoint, every person of biblical faith should be outraged at any attempt by the state to use procedural bar in death penalty cases. Exodus 23:7 All persons of Catholic faith should be doubly outraged in light of the specific teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas that the execution of an innocent person is intrinsically evil. In principle, procedural bar should be banned in all death penalty cases. In this case specifically, the courts should order that the evidence be heard. Even a minimum of moral decency requires it"
Dale S. Recinella, Catholic Correctional Chaplain"
