Filing # 21867560 Electronically Filed 12/22/2014 01:39:41 PM RECEIVED, 12/22/2014 13:43:39, John A. Tomasino, Clerk, Supreme Court IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA STATE OF FLORIDA Appellants, Case No. SC13-1826 v. Lower Court No. 74-4139 JACOB DOUGAN, Appellee. ____________________________ ON APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA __________________________________________________________________ AMICUS BRIEF OF THE EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE __________________________________________________________________ BRYAN A. STEVENSON* PETER DENNIS FL Pro Hac Vice No. 32845 Florida Bar No. 0045761 JENNIFER R. TAYLOR* The Tidewater Building FL Pro Hac Vice No. 89266 1375 Jackson Street, Ste. 303 Equal Justice Initiative P.O. Drawer 2199 122 Commerce Street Fort Myers, FL 33902-2199 Montgomery, AL 36104 Ph: (239) 334-3400 Ph: (334) 269-1803 Fax: (239) 334-3442 Fax: (334) 269-1806
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Local Counsel Amicus Curiae *Pro hac vice motion pending TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS. i TABLE OF CITATIONS. ii IDENTITY AND INTEREST OF AMICUS CURIAE. 1 SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT. 2 ARGUMENT.. 3 I. THE UNIQUE HISTORY OF RACIAL INEQUALITY AND VIOLENCE PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT CONTEXT TO THE CRIME, PROSECUTION AND MISCONDUCT SURROUNDING JACOB DOUGAN’S CONVICTION... 4 II. THERE WAS HEIGHTENED RISK OF AN UNRELIABLE CONVICTION AND DEATH SENTENCE DURING MR. DOUGAN’S TRIAL AND SENTENCING... 11 A. The Sentencing Court was Unable to Consider Past Experiences of Racism as Mitigation and Thus Unqualified to Evaluate Mr. Dougan’s Culpability.. 14 CONCLUSION. 19 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND COMPLIANCE. 20 i TABLE OF CITATIONS CASE LAW Dougan v.