Johnson v. Florida Department of Corrections

HULL, Circuit Judge:

Ronnie Johnson, a state prisoner under two death sentences, filed a pair of 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petitions, one attacking his first sentence, the other attacking his second. In separate orders, the district court dismissed each petition as untimely. We consolidated Johnson’s appeals. After review and oral argument, we affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

On March 11, 1989, Johnson murdered laundromat owner Tequila Larkins, a hired killing which he committed in return for “about $300 or $400.” Nine days later, Johnson murdered grocery store owner and community anti-drug activist Lee Arthur…