The Florida Supreme Court has indeed issued a temporary stay of execution for James Aren Duckett, a former Mascotte police officer who was scheduled to be executed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
The court’s decision, handed down on Thursday, March 26, is a strategic pause rather than a final ruling. Here are the key details surrounding the stay:
Reason for the Stay
The majority of the court agreed to halt the execution to allow for the completion of post-conviction DNA testing. Duckett’s legal team requested new testing on a swab collected from the victim’s clothing, arguing that modern forensic technology—unavailable during his 1988 trial—could prove his “actual innocence.”
The State acknowledged that the evidence is potentially exculpatory and did not object to the testing, though it did question the timing of the request.
Key Deadlines & Next Steps
- Status Update: The Court ordered the State to provide an update on the status of the DNA testing by 5:00 p.m. today, Friday, March 27, 2026.
- The Dissents: The decision was not unanimous. Justice Adam Tanenbaum dissented, arguing that a stay was premature because the DNA results were expected to be ready before the scheduled execution date anyway.
- The Warrant: Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant on February 27. While the March 31 date is now on hold, the warrant remains effective until April 7, meaning the execution could still be rescheduled quickly if the DNA results do not support Duckett’s claims.
Background on the Case
Duckett, now 68, was convicted of the 1987 rape and murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee. At the time, he was a rookie police officer in Mascotte (Lake County). Witnesses reported seeing the victim get into Duckett’s patrol car shortly before she disappeared; her body was found the following morning in a nearby lake. Duckett has maintained his innocence for nearly 40 years