As the fight for justice and fairness continues, we ask for your support in two crucial cases that bring to light the flaws in our criminal justice system. Both Steven Nelson in Texas and James Ford in Florida are facing imminent executions, despite significant concerns regarding their convictions and sentences. We urge you to stand with us in advocating for their clemency and raising your voice against the death penalty.
Steven Nelson: A Call for Clemency in Texas
On February 5, 2025, the state of Texas is scheduled to execute Steven Nelson for a crime he maintains he did not commit. Nelson has been convicted of the murder of Pastor Clinton Dobson in Arlington, Texas, in 2011, but he asserts that he only served as a lookout during a robbery, not the perpetrator of the crime.
Nelson’s case is riddled with concerns about his trial. He received inadequate legal representation in 2012, and his defense attorneys failed to investigate key evidence that could have exonerated him. Evidence related to two possible accomplices was never presented, and the jury was not made aware of this information. His trial counsel and post-conviction lawyers also failed to explore the childhood trauma and neglect Nelson suffered, which could have been crucial in mitigating his sentence.
Nelson has now filed a clemency application with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Greg Abbott, requesting that his death sentence be commuted to life in prison or, at the very least, a 120-day reprieve to allow for a full review of the evidence. The failure to consider this evidence casts doubt on his conviction and the fairness of his trial.
How You Can Help:
We ask you to join us in urging the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Greg Abbott to grant clemency for Steven Nelson. You can send an email to the Board of Pardons and Paroles at bpp_clemency@tdcj.texas.gov, including his TDCJ #999576 and DOB 02/18/1987. Here’s a suggested email you can use to voice your concern:
Subject: Clemency Request for Steven Nelson (TDCJ #999576)
Dear Chair Moberley and Members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles,
I am writing to express my support for the clemency application filed by Steven Nelson (TDCJ #999576, DOB 02/18/1987). Steven Nelson is scheduled for execution on February 5, 2025, despite substantial evidence that was never considered by a jury, including evidence that points to other men being responsible for the fatal assault.
Nelson’s attorneys failed to investigate this critical evidence or present mitigating information about his abusive and neglected childhood, which could have influenced his sentencing. I urge you to recommend clemency in this case and grant either a commutation to life in prison or a 120-day reprieve to ensure that the full scope of evidence is properly considered.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[City, State]
James Ford: Urging Clemency in Florida
Meanwhile, in Florida, we ask you to stand with Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty in calling for clemency for James Ford, who is scheduled to be executed on February 13, 2025. James has spent over 25 years on death row, convicted by a non-unanimous jury in 2001. After the U.S. Supreme Court declared Florida’s death penalty system unconstitutional, James’ case should have been reconsidered, but he missed the deadline for an appeal by just 27 days.
James Ford’s childhood was marked by neglect and trauma, growing up in an environment plagued by alcohol abuse. He was diagnosed with the same affliction that affected many members of his family, and he is no longer the same person who was sentenced to death over two decades ago.
By urging Governor Ron DeSantis and the Executive Clemency Board to stay James Ford’s execution, we send a strong message that Florida does not need the death penalty to ensure safety and justice. The death penalty perpetuates a cycle of violence and harms not only the individuals involved but society as a whole.
How You Can Help:
Please sign the petition to urge Governor DeSantis and the Clemency Board to grant clemency for James Ford. Your support will help bring attention to this case and highlight the flaws in the system that continue to affect individuals on death row.
Why Your Voice Matters
In both of these cases, the justice system has failed to consider crucial evidence that could potentially change the outcome for these men. Whether it’s Steven Nelson’s inadequate defense or James Ford’s unconstitutional sentencing, it’s clear that these cases deserve further scrutiny before irreversible actions are taken.
By standing with us and signing petitions, emailing officials, and spreading the word, you are not only advocating for justice for Steven and James but also sending a message to our leaders that we need a more thoughtful, fair, and humane approach to criminal justice.
Let’s continue the fight to protect the innocent, promote fairness, and ultimately end the death penalty in our country.