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Napoleon Beazley (August 5, 1976 – May 28, 2002) was an American convicted murderer executed by lethal injection by the State of Texas for the murder of 63-year-old businessman John Luttig during a carjacking in 1994, when he was 17. He was one of the last juvenile offenders to be executed in the United States.
John Luttig was the father of United States federal judge J. Michael Luttig. During Beazley's appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, three of the nine justices Recusal 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 been involved in their confirmations to the Supreme Court.
On June 1, 2000, Beazley filed his brief on appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On February 9, 2001, the Fifth Circuit issued a published opinion denying habeas corpus relief. On March 15, 2001, the Fifth Circuit turned down Beazley's petition for rehearing. On March 30, 2001, Beazley's execution was set for August 15, 2001 by the District Court of Smith County, Texas. On June 13, 2001, Beazley petitioned for certiorari review from the denial of federal habeas corpus relief. On June 28, 2001, Beazley applied for a stay of execution from the Supreme Court. On August 13, 2001, the Supreme Court voted 3–3 on Beazley's request for a stay of execution. The tie vote resulted in the Fifth Circuit's decision standing, effectively rejecting Beazley's request for a stay. On August 15, 2001, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay of execution on the day of Beazley's scheduled execution.
On October 1, 2001, the Supreme Court turned down certiorari review. On April 17, 2002, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals vacated the stay of execution. On April 26, 2002, Beazley's execution was set for May 28, 2002, by the District Court of Smith County, Texas. On May 7, 2002, Beazley filed a petition for clemency with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. On May 13, 2002, Beazley filed a supplemental petition for clemency. On May 17, 2002, Beazley along with three others filed suit in the U.S. District Court pleading inadequate representation. That same day, U.S. District Judge Hayden Head declined to hear the lawsuit. A notice of appeal was filed. On May 21, 2002, the Fifth Circuit issued an opinion affirming the lower court's judgment, turning down injunctive relief. On May 22, 2002, Beazley petitioned for certiorari review to the Supreme Court.
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..
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