Napoleon Beazley

Napoleon Beazley (August 5, 1976 – May 28, 2002) was a convicted murderer executed by lethal injection by the State of Texas for the murder of 63-year-old businessman John Luttig in 1994. Beazley shot Luttig in his garage on April 19, 1994 in order to steal his family's car. Beazley also shot at Luttig's wife, but he missed and she survived the assault by playing dead. Beazley carried out the crime with two accomplices, Cedrick and Donald Coleman, who later testified against him. Both are serving life sentences in prison.

Beazley's case is notable because he was 17 years, eight and one-half months old at the time of the offense and because his victim was the father of a United States federal judge, J. Michael Luttig. During his appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, three of the nine justices recused themselves because of their personal ties to Judge Luttig, leaving six justices to review the case. Justice Antonin Scalia recused himself because Luttig had clerked for him, while Justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas recused themselves because Luttig had led the George H. W. Bush Administration's successful effort to gain U.S. Senate confirmation for them to the Supreme Court.[1]

June 3, 1997 - Beazley filed an application for state writ of habeas corpus with the state trial court of conviction.

Sept. 5, 1997 - The trial court held an evidentiary hearing.

Oct. 31, 1997 - The trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law denying habeas relief.

Jan. 21, 1998 - The Court of Criminal Appeals accepted findings, but they turned down relief.

Oct. 1, 1998 - Beazley petitioned for habeas corpus in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Sept. 30, 1999 - The U.S. District Court turned down relief.

Oct. 26, 1999 - The district court turned down reconsideration.

Dec. 28, 1999 - The district court allowed Beazley to make an appeal.

June 1, 2000 - Beazley filed his brief on appeal to the Fifth Circuit.

Feb. 9, 2001 - The Fifth Circuit issued a published opinion asserting the denial of habeas relief.

March 15, 2001 - The Fifth Circuit turned down Beazley's petition for rehearing.

March 30, 2001 - Beazley's execution was determined to be on Aug. 15, 2001 by the District Court of Smith County, Texas.

June 13, 2001 - Beazley petitioned for certiorari review from the denial of federal habeas relief.

June 28, 2001 - Beazley applied for a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Aug. 13, 2001 - The United States Supreme Court turned down Beazley's application for stay of execution.

Aug. 15, 2001 - The Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay of execution on the day of Beazly's execution.

Oct. 1, 2001- The United States Supreme Court turns down certiorari review.

Apr. 17, 2002 - The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals vacates the stay of execution.

Apr. 26, 2002 - Beazley's execution was determined to be on May 28, 2002 by The District Court of Smith County, Texas.

May 7, 2002 - Beazley files a petition for clemency with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

May 13, 2002 - Beazley files a supplemental petition for clemency.

May 17, 2002- Beazley along with 3 others file 1983 suit in the U.S. District Court pleading inadequate representation.

May 17, 2002 - U.S. District Judge Hayden Head declines the lawsuit. Notice of Appeal filed.

May 21, 2002 - The Fifth Circuit administered an opinion asserting the lower court's judgment, turning down injunctive relief.

May 22, 2002 - Beazley petitions for certiorari review to the United States Supreme Court.[2]

On August 13, 2001, the Court voted 3-3 on Beazley's request for a stay of execution, with the tie vote resulting in a rejection of the request.[3] On May 28, 2002, the Court voted unanimously 6-0 to reject Beazley's request for a writ of habeas corpus.[4]

Beazley's execution sparked a fierce debate between opponents and supporters of the death penalty, particularly with respect to juvenile offenders.[5] Some organizations, such as Amnesty International, argued in favor of clemency due to his age (Beazley was at the time of the offense 3½ months from his 18th birthday) and their opposition to the death penalty in general.[6]

Beazley was one of the last juvenile offenders to be executed in the United States. In 2005, the Supreme Court (in Roper v. Simmons) banned the practice of executing offenders who were under the age of 18 when they committed their crimes.