Help Save Ernest Suggs’s Life
An innocent man has been on Florida’s death row for over 30 years. We need your help to save him. In addition to sending an email to Governor DeSantis asking for clemency, there are several other ways you can help save Ernest Suggs’s life: write your representative, make phone calls, and share Ernie’s story on social media.
Make a phone call
Use your own words or this sample script to call Governor DeSantis or your representatives and let them know that you believe Mr. Suggs’ conviction stands on shaky ground.
Governor DeSantis’ Office: (850) 717-9337
Share Ernie’s Story on Social Media
Post the following pictures on your Instagram/Facebook stories, or share the following messages on your favorite platform to help get Ernie’s story out there! #freeernie #JusticeforErnestSuggs
Sign the Petition
Sign the petition sponsored by Floridians for Alternatives
to end the Death Penalty and the U.S. Campaign to End
the Death Penalty!
Write Your Personal Representative
Florida residents: we need your help! Please contact your representatives and ask them to urge Governor DeSantis to do the right thing and grant Mr. Suggs clemency. Copy + paste this letter and send to your representative!Dear [Representative],
I am writing to express deep concerns about the conviction of Ernest Suggs. I ask you to urge Governor DeSantis to grant clemency in Mr. Suggs’ case.
Ernest Suggs was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his friend Pauline Casey. He has been on death row in Florida for more than 30 years. He has always maintained his innocence, and the victim’s daughter, Laura Johnson, believes Mr. Suggs is innocent and she does not want him to be executed.
Mr. Suggs was tried and convicted in 1992 and sentenced to death by a non-unanimous jury vote of 7 to 5. Current Florida law requires at least 8 jurors to vote for death, and every state, except Florida and Alabama, requires a unanimous decision to impose a death sentence.
In 2014, Mr. Suggs’s trial judge, Laura Melvin, wrote a letter to then-Governor Scott asking him to commute Mr. Suggs’ death sentence to life in prison without parole because the jury’s 7-5 vote demonstrates that Suggs’s execution is by no means a unanimous choice.
When the victim's own daughter is asking for this case to be reexamined, it should make all of us sit up and take a look at the new evidence being presented.
I sincerely hope that you will not allow Mr. Suggs to be executed under these circumstances.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Phone call sample script
“Hello, my name is _______. I am calling because I am concerned about the conviction and death sentence of Ernest Suggs. Florida has a grave history of wrongful convictions, with 30 exonerations of death row inmates. After hearing about the case of Mr. Suggs, I am deeply concerned that if Mr. Suggs’ conviction stands without a fair trial, we are going to add to that number. I am worried about the lack of investigation, the use of unreliable jailhouse testimony, and the bolstering of circumstantial evidence presented at his trial. Most importantly, I believe that victim’s voices are paramount - especially when they are invoked as justification for the death penalty. The daughter of the victim in Mr. Suggs’ case believes he is innocent and does NOT want him to be executed. I urge you to listen to her, and ask Governor DeSantis to grant clemency to Mr. Suggs. “
I just learned about Ernest Suggs, an innocent man on Florida’s death row. He was convicted in 1992 for the murder of his friend, but the daughter of the victim believes he is innocent and has been trying to stop his execution for years to no avail. This is not justice. #freeernie
In 1992, Ernest Suggs was convicted of the murder of Pauline Casey. Today, the victim’s daughter and the trial judge stand together in opposition to his execution. His jury voted 7-5 for the death penalty, a verdict that would result in life under today’s laws. #freeernie
Ernest Suggs is an innocent man on Florida’s death row. He was arrested less than 6 hours after it was discovered the victim was missing, and officers testified looking at other suspects “wasn’t their priority” anymore, even though there were other potential suspects with motive. #freeernie
Don’t let Florida execute an innocent man! Ernest Suggs has been on death row for over 35 years despite convincing evidence of his innocence, and the victim’s daughter’s belief that he is innocent. Help prevent this grave injustice by signing the petition, visiting the website, and sharing his story. #freeernie