Florida Death Row in 2025: Remembering the Men Executed and the Friends Left Behind

James Duckett reflects on decades spent on Florida Death Row, recalling shared meals, friendships, and memories while confronting a devastating year marked by an unprecedented number of executions in 2025.

Sitting here after decades, I’m trying to think about the holiday seasons of the past. I had many that brought smiles that I survived on to recall. Yet, 2025 has ruined those memories sadly.

Being on Death Row so long, I’ve met many men here. I got to meet, and know well, some who were neighbors or I shared the floor with. Some I shared meals with, be it prison food or what we call prison recipes we make with food bought together out of canteen, some good other mixes. Honestly, not so good, but it kept the hunger down and sharing was always nice. All good memories.

Living With Death on Florida Death Row

Don’t get me wrong. I fully realize where we are, Florida’s Death Row, so we all know death knocks at our door at one time in the future. When someone is selected for a death warrant, selected by the governor and signed, a death warrant providing a date to be killed, it’s not a huge shock. But 2025 proved to be an unforgettable year.

The governor is elected for four years and can do an additional four years if elected again. The current governor is in his second term and last of his fourth year. 2026 is an election year, and he’s out in January 2027. All through his years, he executed two in 2019, six in 2023, and one in 2024. Then, in 2025, I don’t know why, in February, he started what would be a killing year. I decided to list all so far killed or will be by year’s end.

1. February 13: James Ford

2. March 20: Edward James

3. April 9: Michael Tanzi

At this point, one a month wasn’t enough, so the governor started killing two a month.

4. May 1: Jeffrey Hutchinson

5. May 15: Glen Rogers

6. June 10: Anthony Wainwright

7. June 24: Thomas Gudinas

8. July 15: Michael Bell

9. July 31: Edward Zakrzewski

10. August 19: Kayle Bates

11. August 28: Curtis Windom

12. September 17: David Pittman

13. September 30: Victor Jones

14. October 14: Samuel Smithers

15. October 28: Norman Grim

16. November 13: Bryan Jennings

17. November 20: Richard Randolph

18. December 9: Mark Geralds

Appeals, Courts, and Justice on Florida Death Row

Sad to write, these last two men gave up appeals of their death warrant issued. I don’t know their reasons, could be that the governor stacked the Florida Supreme Court with ultraconservative justices who, at last count, have denied approximately 165 consecutive Death Row appeals. Not allowing a single issue to be granted. So why hang hope on appeals, knowing this highest court refuses to grant a single legal claim?

What about the principle of a checks and balances system? Why bother appealing? Why even have a court whose basic job is to make sure the trial court, judges, state attorneys, even defense attorneys representing death row inmates are all doing their jobs as the law requires? This is what the Florida Supreme Court is supposed to do, check and make sure before signing off. Is it legally done correctly when this court denies every single appeal/claim brought in appeals? Where did justice go?

And what about the federal courts? For those who aren’t familiar with the U.S. justice system, it’s a two-step system: state courts, trial court, district courts of appeal, and Florida Supreme Court. Death sentences only go from trial to Florida Supreme Court. Then one goes into the federal system, federal district, then appeal courts, then to the highest court in the U.S., the Supreme Court, instead of Florida’s governor now who’s in control of the federal?

President Trump selects and appoints these court justices with okay from the U.S. Senate. Of course, Republicans’ additional ultraconservative legislature. No relief from the federal, at least I recall.

Losing Friends in 2025

I wasn’t really expecting another one this year, but I guess the governor wanted another. I just saw Speedy outside yesterday, and we were talking about warrants and friends killed. He made a comment, “Jim, if they came for me tomorrow, I would be happy and sing all the way out to the van and all the way to FSP. I’m tired, Jim, of being here and this mess and I’m ready to go to Heaven.” Little did I think tomorrow was today. So keep him in your thoughts, please.

19. December 18: Frank Walls

So, my 2025 is full of friends who were or will be executed. Memories of long talks, meals shared, and yes, the possibility that my time may come to join those gone by the State. So the governor can brag in the media about how many he has executed.

I wish all happy holidays and if you have time, think about these men killed so one can brag and question what a system like Florida has. Reach out to me or anyone on Death Row. Let them know someone cares.

Want to read more? Check out My 40th Birthday on Death Row

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