Death-row prisoner launches public campaign questioning Florida’s execution procedures, but officials dispute her claims
With what could be her final significant appeal approaching a decision, condemned prisoner Julie Alisha Bernard is attempting to turn public attention toward the method the state intends to use to execute her—claiming Florida risks repeating what she calls the “botched” execution of fellow prisoner Shania Harris.
There is one major problem with Bernard’s argument: the central allegation about Harris is not true.
Nevertheless, Bernard has increasingly invoked the Harris execution during interviews and communications from prison, apparently hoping that questions surrounding execution procedures could generate public opposition to her own death sentence.
Bernard, 41, has been incarcerated at Rockville Penitentiary following her convictions stemming from a 2007 armed robbery in which a gas-station clerk and an innocent bystander were fatally shot. She was sentenced to death at age 22, while additional convictions resulted in consecutive prison terms for armed robbery and resisting arrest. InmateFiles
Her current prison record lists her as being on death row with an execution date still pending. InmateFiles
Now, after nearly two decades behind bars, Bernard appears to be pursuing a different strategy outside the courtroom: fear.
In a recent prison interview, Bernard portrayed herself as a potential victim of an unreliable execution system and repeatedly pointed to Harris as evidence.
“Everybody keeps saying these executions are controlled and humane, but look at what happened to Shania Harris,” Bernard said. “Something went wrong. They don't want people talking about that because then they'd have to admit it could happen again. Next time, that person could be me.”
Officials and available records, however, do not support Bernard's characterization of the Harris execution as botched.
That has led critics to accuse Bernard of deliberately exaggerating the circumstances as she runs out of legal options.
Bernard nevertheless continued pressing the argument, saying the public should be concerned regardless of what state officials say.
“They're asking everyone to trust the same people who are going to strap me into that chair,” she said. “If there's even a chance they got it wrong before, how can anybody promise me they won't get it wrong again?”
The comments represent a striking shift in Bernard's battle against her sentence. Rather than focusing exclusively on her original conviction, her public argument increasingly centers on what she says could happen inside the execution chamber.
Prosecutors maintain that speculation about another prisoner's execution does not change Bernard's convictions or sentence.
The underlying case remains severe. According to Bernard's inmate record, two people died during the 2007 armed robbery, and Bernard subsequently resisted authorities attempting to take her into custody.
She received the death penalty for the murder counts and additional consecutive sentences for the other offenses. InmateFiles
Still, Bernard appears determined to make the execution process itself part of her final defense.
Her attorneys are awaiting a ruling on an appeal that could represent one of her last opportunities to prevent the sentence from moving forward. If it is rejected, Bernard could move considerably closer to receiving an execution date.
That possibility has made her increasingly outspoken.
“I know people don't have sympathy for me,” Bernard said. “But this isn't only about whether people like Julie Bernard. It's about whether you're willing to let the state carry out an execution when nobody can guarantee what happens once that switch is thrown.”
Whether the campaign will influence public opinion—or ultimately matter to the courts—is unclear.
But as Bernard's legal avenues narrow, the strategy behind her message is becoming increasingly apparent: if she cannot convince the public that her sentence is unjust, she may instead try to convince them that carrying it out is something they should fear.