

Commute the Death Sentence of Frank Spisak


Commute the Death Sentence of Frank Spisak
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.
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.
Petition Closed
Share this petition
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on June 17, 2010