Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 29, 2017

A coalition of Civil Rights and other organizations is planning to bus hundreds of supporters to Tallahassee for a rally Thursday for Orlando’s embattled State Attorney Aramis Ayala. The “Ride For Aramis,” events will conclude with a 12:30 p.m. rally on the Duval Road steps of the Florida Capitol. Organizers, which include the NAACP, Latino […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2017

After losing a judge’s ruling Tuesday on her request to remain the prosecutor for the murder trial of of alleged cop-killer Markeith Loyd, Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala vowed Tuesday to continue fighting for her right to represent the state in that case. Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Frederick Lauten ruled Tuesday that the state […]

Scott PowersMarch 23, 2017

In January, when she took office, new Denver District Attorney Beth McCann reaffirmed her campaign promise on an extraordinary policy: There would be no death penalty cases in her district under her watch. The reaction? Virtually nothing. No expressions of shock or outrage from other politicians, no calls for cases to be stripped from her, […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 22, 2017

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Make room in Florida’s small hall of heroes. If John B. Orr Jr., were alive, he would be welcoming Aramis Ayala. When in 1956, while everyone else in Tallahassee was losing their heads over school segregation, Orr was the only legislator who dared to vote against a scheme to perpetuate it. Speaking on the House […]

Michael MolineMarch 21, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott wouldn’t say Tuesday whether he would permanently suspend State Attorney Aramis Ayala. But Scott insisted his special prosecutor would be the one to seek the death penalty against Markeith Loyd, despite Ayala’s challenge to his order reassigning her. Under questioning by reporters at the state Capitol, Scott said only: “We are going […]

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 17, 2017

A group of church and civil rights leaders joined mothers of slaying victims from Florida and Central Florida Friday outside the office of State Attorney Aramis Ayala. They were there to send a message to her and the community. “We stand with you, State Attorney Ayala,” proclaimed Christine Henderson of Equal Justice USA of Florida. She and a […]

Joe HendersonMarch 17, 2017

I’m not a big fan of the death penalty. I think having condemned inmates spend 20 years or more on death row while their appeals play out thwarts the argument that is a deterrent. Inmate Douglas R. Meeks, for example, has been awaiting execution since March 21, 1975. He is one of 16 inmates who […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2017

Former State Attorney Jeff Ashton – former boss and then election opponent to current State Attorney Aramis Ayala – said Thursday he believes she might not have legal ground to take the unprecedented “no death penalty” position she announced earlier Thursday. Ashton also said he believes Ayala may have adopted the position to please her political benefactor, […]

Tag: death penalty
Image via AP.

Busloads of ‘hundreds’ planned for Aramis Ayala rally in Tallahassee

Aramis Ayala loses judge’s ruling but pushes forward to challenge case reassignment

If Aramis Ayala had been in Denver, people might have shrugged

Martin Dyckman: Aramis Ayala’s principled stance on death penalty not out of step with history

Rick Scott reviewing options in Aramis Ayala death-penalty situation

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

Aramis Ayala files stay to keep Markeith Loyd case

Church, Civil Rights leaders, slaying victims’ mothers rally for Aramis Ayala

Joe Henderson: Aramis Ayala should follow law in death penalty case, not try to make it

Jeff Ashton: Aramis Ayala may not have legal grounds to ban death penalty