Florida courts deny execution block for Edward James

The Florida Supreme Court and a federal appeals court have denied requests to block the execution of Edward James, scheduled for March 20. James was convicted of murdering Betty Dick and her 8-year-old granddaughter in 1993. Both courts rejected arguments regarding James' cognitive decline and the claim that his execution would violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The state Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision, stating that James' cognitive issues do not prevent his execution. James, sentenced to death in 1995, has the option to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. He would be the second inmate executed in Florida this year, following the execution of James Ford in February.