Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 23, 2016

The state’s leading death penalty opposition group is calling for more than 200 Florida death row inmates to have their sentences reduced to life imprisonment. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) says a Florida Supreme Court decision on convicted killer Mark Asay out Thursday means that many are “entitled to be resentenced.” The court […]

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2016

Mark Asay will remain on the state’s death row, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday, likely to become the “first white person executed for the murder of a black person in this state.” Its 80-page opinion also determined that this year’s U.S. Supreme Court opinion, Hurst v. Florida, requiring Florida juries—not judges—”to (determine) the facts necessary to sentence a defendant […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 14, 2016

Florida has a new death-sentencing law to replace what the U.S. Supreme Court threw out two months ago. On balance, it’s an improvement. Jurors must now identify, unanimously, any of the reasons — what the law calls aggravating circumstances — why a person they have convicted of a capital crime should die rather than serve […]

Julie DelegalFebruary 24, 2016

The Florida Senate has the chance to repair the state’s death penalty statutes in a way that won’t invite years of litigation. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court declared Florida’s death penalty procedures unconstitutional. Until the Legislature acts, the state’s prosecutors have no legal avenue for pursuing death penalty cases. House Bill 7101 is a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

Public Defender Matt Shirk sent a letter Thursday to State Attorney Angela Corey, urging her to reconsider seeking the death penalty of James Rhodes, saying that Corey’s position demonstrates a “disregard” of the wishes of the victim’s mother that is “troubling” to the public defender. Rhodes, charged with murder of a store clerk in 2013, has been for “more than […]

Julie DelegalJanuary 29, 2016

Last of three parts When asked which death row inmates could be affected by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Jan. 12 ruling, “Hurst v. Florida,” Jacksonville criminal defense attorney Gray Thomas says, theoretically, “all of them.” The penalty-phase procedure that gives the judge the final word was written into Florida law after the U.S. Supreme Court […]

Julie DelegalJanuary 28, 2016

Last of three parts When asked which death row inmates could be affected by the U.S. Supreme Court’s January 12 ruling, Hurst v. Florida, Jacksonville criminal defense attorney Gray Thomas says, theoretically, “all of them.” The penalty-phase procedure that gives the judge the final word was written into Florida law after the U.S. Supreme Court […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 20, 2016

Felicia Brown‘s body was left at a Palm Beach County waste management site. The decomposing corpses of her two children, ages 6 and 10, were found inside luggage floating in a canal. Clem Beauchamp, her ex-boyfriend, will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing them. He pleaded guilty this month in a […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 19, 2016

Felicia Brown’s body was left at a Palm Beach County waste management site. The decomposing corpses of her two children, ages 6 and 10, were found inside luggage floating in a canal. Clem Beauchamp, her ex-boyfriend, will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing them. He pleaded guilty this month in a […]

Bob SparksJanuary 14, 2016

On Tuesday night, the U.S. House and Senate gathered in a joint session to hear President Barack Obama deliver his final State of the Union address. Tuesday morning, the Florida House of Representatives and Senate also convened in joint session for Gov. Rick Scott’s State of the State remarks. These speeches normally provide a roadmap […]

Tag: Hurst v Florida

After Asay decision, anti-death penalty advocates call for commutations

In Mark Asay case, court says death penalty ruling isn’t retroactive

Martin Dyckman: Despite new law, Florida’s death penalty process flawed

Julie Delegal: Legislature’s death penalty “fix” is flawed

Matt Shirk urges Angela Corey to change position on death penalty for James Rhodes

Julie Delegal: More questions than answers after court’s death-penalty ruling

Julie Delegal: More questions than answers after court’s death-penalty ruling

Martin Dyckman: Death penalty riddled with too many inconsistencies

Martin Dyckman: Death penalty riddled with too many inconsistencies

Bob Sparks: U.S. Supreme Court adds to Legislature’s “to do” list