Commute the Death Sentence of Frank Spisak

Julie Przybysz
Cincinnati, OH, United StatesCreated June 17, 2010

Commute the Death Sentence of Frank Spisak

Julie PrzybyszCincinnati, OH, United States
Created June 17, 2010

The Issue

Frank Spisak suffers from a schizotypal personality disorder and an atypical psychotic disorder.

Frank Spisak did not get a fair trial:

He had insufficient counsel. Justice Stevens wrote that his “counsel’s argument grossly transgressed the bounds of what constitutionally competent counsel would have done in a similar situation….the argument [Spisak’s defense attorney’s closing argument] shares more in common with a prosecutor’s closing than with a criminal defense attorney’s. Indeed, the argument was so outrageous that it would have rightly subjected a prosecutor to charges of misconduct.”The jury was given sufficient instructions during the sentencing stage about the consequences and possibilities of a sentencing other than the death penalty.

This petition had 53 supporters

The Issue

Frank Spisak suffers from a schizotypal personality disorder and an atypical psychotic disorder.

Frank Spisak did not get a fair trial:

He had insufficient counsel. Justice Stevens wrote that his “counsel’s argument grossly transgressed the bounds of what constitutionally competent counsel would have done in a similar situation….the argument [Spisak’s defense attorney’s closing argument] shares more in common with a prosecutor’s closing than with a criminal defense attorney’s. Indeed, the argument was so outrageous that it would have rightly subjected a prosecutor to charges of misconduct.”The jury was given sufficient instructions during the sentencing stage about the consequences and possibilities of a sentencing other than the death penalty.

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Petition created on June 17, 2010