Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2016

Florida House Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran said he was “profoundly disappointed” by Friday’s state Supreme Court opinion invalidating part of the state’s death penalty. The court ruled 5-2 that death sentences require a unanimous jury, striking down a new law allowing a defendant to be sentenced to death as long as 10 out of 12 jurors recommend it. “Make […]

Associated PressOctober 14, 2016

The fate of convicted killers on Florida’s death row – as well as the fate of people awaiting trial for murder – was put in limbo Friday after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that death sentences require a unanimous jury. By a 5-2 vote the court struck down a newly enacted law allowing a defendant […]

Brendan FarringtonSeptember 9, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court reduced the sentence of a death row inmate Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered it to reconsider his intellectual abilities based on factors other than his IQ. Freddie Lee Hall, 71, will now serve a life sentence for the 1978 murder of a 21-year-old pregnant woman who was abducted while […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 23, 2016

In Duval County, it has taken just 66 minutes in the sentencing phase to decide to impose the death penalty on a murderer. And often, it has been done without a unanimous jury. That stat illustrates why one group believes Duval is among the worst of the worst when it comes to death penalty sentences, […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 29, 2016

Julia Fletcher, a Navy intelligence veteran who withdrew her candidacy in Florida’s 4th Congressional District in June, endorsed John Rutherford Friday. “John Rutherford is a street-hardened realist with a record that demonstrates care for every citizen,” said Fletcher. “John’s honest, pragmatic, and altruistic service to our community and his willingness to examine the issues and to listen closely […]

Associated PressJuly 27, 2016

The Latest on the Democratic National Convention (all times EDT): 10:17 p.m. Tim Kaine is promoting his lengthy government experience in his first major speech as the Democratic vice presidential candidate. The Virginia senator – in a prime-time speech at the Democratic convention – is detailing his rise from a member of the Richmond City […]

Associated PressJuly 27, 2016

Facing a backlash from the left, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is expected to affirm his liberal credentials in his first prime-time speech as Hillary Clinton‘s running mate. Kaine was speaking Wednesday to the Democratic National Committee as supporters of Clinton’s one-time Democratic rival Bernie Sanders warned that Kaine had yet to forcefully oppose the Trans-Pacific […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 27, 2016

The Congressional District 4 GOP race thus far has been a race to the right. And in that context comes Hans Tanzler‘s recent attacks on John Rutherford for the former Jacksonville sheriff’s opposition to the death penalty. On Wednesday morning, Tanzler sent out a press release saying “I am not sure that with a blanket approach to this […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 15, 2016

Fourth Circuit State Attorney Angela Corey debated fellow Republican challengers Wes White and Melissa Nelson Friday at the First Coast Tiger Bay meeting. Among the topics addressed: administration of the death penalty; the backlog of appeals in the public defender’s office; Nelson’s diverse base of donors; Stand Your Ground defenses; Corey’s alleged penchant for “overcharging” defendants; and the right approach […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2016

More national publicity for the Jacksonville area and State Attorney Angela Corey materialized this week, courtesy of the Harvard Law School. Its Fair Punishment Project, which “highlight[s] the gross injustices resulting from prosecutorial misconduct,” lists America’s “deadliest prosecutors.” And Corey’s top prosecutor, Bernie de la Rionda, is listed as one of “three to watch” on the study’s […]

Tag: death penalty

Reacting to death penalty decision, Richard Corcoran says courts ‘subvert will of the people’

Florida Court: Jury must unanimously agree on death penalty

Death to life: Florida reduces disabled murderer’s sentence

Harvard Law: Duval County among nation’s leaders in death penalty sentences

Former CD 4 candidate Julia Fletcher endorses John Rutherford

Tim Kaine promotes his lengthy government experience

Tim Kaine’s mission: Win over skeptical liberals in VP speech

Hans Tanzler attacks John Rutherford on death penalty opposition

State Attorney candidates tangle at Jacksonville Tiger Bay

Harvard Law study: Angela Corey assistant among America’s deadliest prosecutors