Staff Reports
Reform-minded State Attorney Melissa Nelson, a first-term Republican from the 4th Circuit, was one of six picks from Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ for the state’s Criminal Punishment Code Task Force.
The Legislature created the Criminal Punishment Code Task Force.
“The legislation creates the Task Force, adjunct to the Department of Legal Affairs, for the purpose of reviewing, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding sentencing for and ranking of noncapital felony offenses under the Criminal Punishment Code,” a news release explained.
The task force will submit a report to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Galvano, Speaker José Oliva, and Chief Justice Charles Canady by June 30, 2020.
It must include, at a minimum, the issues considered by the task force, any recommendations for legislative changes, and an analysis of the expected impact of such proposals if enacted by the Legislature.
Nelson, who capsized hard-liner Angela Corey in a Republican primary in 2016, is the most politically visible of the half-dozen picks.
Michael Morley, a law professor at Florida State University, was also selected, as was University of Florida Levin School of Law Professor John Stinneford.
Sixth Circuit Judge Michael Andrews was also selected, as was Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan and Pasco County Sheriff Christopher Nocco.
On Tuesday, Senate President Bill Galvano announced the appointments of Democratic state Sen. Jason Pizzo and Larry Eger, Public Defender for the 12th Judicial Circuit, to represent the Senate on the Criminal Punishment Code Task Force.
