Orlando

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala has gotten her first significant backing from within her own party, with a resolution supporting her and her actions from the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida. The group announced Tuesday it has passed a resolution expressing “its support for Aramis Ayala’s right to exercise her prosecutorial discretion when deciding whether […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes called late Monday for Gov. Rick Scott to reassign all potential death penalty cases under the jurisdiction of State Attorney Aramis Ayala and to suspend her from office. Cortes, who was among the first critics of Ayala’s “no death penalty” policy announced last week, said in a letter to Scott […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

Elected prosecutors who declare they will not pursue the death penalty – as State Attorney Aramis Ayala of Orlando did last week – are rare and far between. And she might be unique in American history for being both very public and firm on that policy. Still, Robert T. Johnson of The Bronx, New York should know […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

State Attorney Aramis Ayala has filed for a stay of Gov. Rick Scott‘s order reassigning the Markeith Loyd police slaying case to neighboring State Attorney Brad King. Scott responded Monday afternoon saying he believes he has the authority to do so through executive order. That sets up a court battle over the powers of the […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

More than 100 current or former judges, prosecutors, law professors and other legal scholars — including two former Florida Supreme Court chief justices — have signed a letter to Gov. Rick Scott expressing their support Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s right to decide not to pursue death penalty cases and urging the governor to back […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

Suddenly again, Cape Canaveral is a busy place for rocket launches, maybe busier than it’s been in 50 or 60 years. On Friday OrbitalATK hopes to launch an International Space Station resupply capsule atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. If all goes well, it will be the third launch in 11 days, following […]

Associated PressMarch 18, 2017

The Florida prosecutor who thrust herself into the forefront of the anti-death penalty movement is a political novice who was elected just seven months ago. Aramis Ayala, a Democrat and former public defender and assistant state attorney, surprised many of her own supporters when she announced this week that her office would no longer seek […]

Terry RoenMarch 17, 2017

The TRUST Orlando Coalition Friday unveiled statewide legislation designed to protect the safety and constitutional rights of Florida’s immigrant communities. Carmen Torres, wife of Senator Victor Torres, and Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith, spoke on the steps of Orlando City Hall urging passage of House Bill 1407 and Senate Bill 1674. “Florida is home to 925,000 […]

Scott PowersMarch 17, 2017

Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s decision to not pursue death penalty cases drew blistering criticism from one of Florida’s police union heads who called her a coward and a traitor. John Rivera, president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, blasted Ayala in a press release saying that her decision outraged law enforcement officers. He called […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has used an executive order to pull the prosecution of alleged cop-killer Markeith Loyd away from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and to reassign it to State Attorney Brad King in Lake County. Scott’s unprecedented move comes hours after the unprecedented announcement by Ayala that she would not prosecute death penalty charges, […]

Orlando

Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida backs Aramis Ayala

Bob Cortes calls for Rick Scott to suspend Aramis Ayala, reassign all her capital cases

Has any elected prosecutor ever done what Aramis Ayala is doing?

Aramis Ayala files stay to keep Markeith Loyd case

More than 100 justices, judges, law professors express support for Aramis Ayala

Cape hosting third launch by third contractor in less than two weeks

Aramis Ayala anti-death penalty stand surprises many

Orlando Trust Coalition urges legislators pass protections for immigrants

Police union head John Rivera calls Aramis Ayala coward

Rick Scott yanks cop-killer case from Aramis Ayala, reassigns it