Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 4, 2017

In a friend of the court brief bound to raise state attorneys’ eyebrows throughout Florida, the Florida House is arguing that prosecutors have no discretion with regard to capital punishment, that the state Legislature’s intent was to rest all discretion with juries. The House filed the brief in the Florida Supreme Court case of Orlando’s State Attorney […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court denied the first attempt by Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala to win back first-degree murder cases that Gov. Rick Scott reassigned to another state attorney. In denying Ayala’s emergency, non-routine petition to overturn Scott’s executive orders reassigning the cases to Ocala’s State Attorney Brad King, the Supreme Court concluded that the […]

Scott PowersApril 21, 2017

A twine noose taped to a postcard and nasty comments sent in the mail and via social media are showing racist hatred Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala is receiving as she battles in court with Gov. Rick Scott over whether she has the power to refuse to pursue death penalty prosecutions. The twine noose was […]

Scott PowersApril 21, 2017

A group of more than 40 former Florida Supreme Court justices, and judges, prosecutors and legal officials from throughout the country are filing an amicus brief supporting Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala in her power-struggle with Gov. Rick Scott, contending that the issues in their court battles are of national importance. “By seeking to remove […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2017

Lawmakers looking to cut budget and staffing levels of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala note that she has so many unfilled staff positions that the cuts should not affect performance, yet a statewide look shows her operation is pretty typical of state attorneys offices. Almost all of Florida’s state attorneys – as well as Florida’s public defenders, […]

Scott PowersApril 13, 2017

A coalition of groups led by the Advancement Project in Washington D.C. is filing an amicus brief charging Gov. Rick Scott with refusing to recognize voters’ will in the State Attorney Aramis Ayala case in the Florida Supreme Court. The coalition, including Civil Rights, immigration reform and labor groups, is characterizing Ayala as a criminal justice […]

Scott PowersApril 12, 2017

A Florida Legislature Conference Committee showdown appears likely over how much money will be cut from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s office now that the Florida Senate passed a budget package Wednesday that includes a much smaller cut than is being proposed in the Florida House. Engineered by state Sen. Randolph Bracy, an Oakland Democrat, […]

Scott PowersApril 3, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has stripped 21 more first-degree murder cases from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and reassigned them to Ocala’s State Attorney Brad King to prosecute. In 21 new executive orders decrying Ayala’s announced policy to not pursue the death penalty in any cases in her 9th Judicial Circuit, Scott declared his “grave concerns […]

Scott PowersApril 3, 2017

The Florida Legislature may be negotiating how to cut funding to the office of 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala — and ironically the less-controversial potential cut to her budget is the bigger of two now moving through committees. That sorting may begin this week when the House and Senate appropriations committees begin their […]

Scott PowersMarch 29, 2017

Orlando’s embattled state Attorney Aramis Ayala accused the Florida Legislature of threatening the public safety and economic health of Central Florida by proposing budget cuts of at least $1.3 million to her office. The Florida House Judicial Appropriations Subcommittee unveiled a budget Tuesday that would cut that much from the Office of the State Attorney […]

Tag: Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit
Listen to Tom Leek's first radio ad.

House argues prosecutors have no discretion on death penalties

Supreme Court denies Aramis Ayala’s first writ to win back cases Rick Scott reassigned

Twine noose lowlights hate being sent Aramis Ayala’s way

More than 40 top judicial, prosecutorial officials to file in support of Aramis Ayala

Not just Aramis Ayala: Almost all state attorneys have lots of job openings for prosecutors, support staff

Amicus brief to charge Rick Scott with voter disenfranchisement in Aramis Ayala case

Florida Senate passes budget with limited cut to Aramis Ayala’s office

Rick Scott strips 21 more murder cases from Aramis Ayala’s jurisdiction

Legislature to consider cuts to Aramis Ayala’s office — deeper or angrier

Aramis Ayala slams proposed budget cuts as threatening public safety in Central Florida