Ward v. State.3

Today, rather than acknowledge our own error in Ward’s postconviction case, the majority upends our precedents recognizing the unique procedural safeguards afforded to petitioners under a sentence of death. Ward’s petition for postconviction relief was unverified. As a result, neither the circuit court that denied it, nor this court had jurisdiction to address his claims. I cannot agree with the majority’s characterization of our decision rendered absent jurisdiction as enuring to Ward’s benefit. Ward is under a sentence of death and should receive the same procedural safeguards afforded to…