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 […]

Martin DyckmanApril 28, 2015

Once again, Florida leads the nation in a sobering statistic. At least 42 of its people have gone to prison, including one who was executed and as many as nine who remain on death row, after trials in which FBI “experts” gave testimony that the agency concedes to have been unscientific. No other state comes […]

Martin DyckmanNovember 30, 2014

Many years ago, a Union County jury spared the life of an inmate who had killed the Florida State Prison’s deputy warden during an escape attempt. Raiford was the governmental version of a company town, so how did the killer get second-degree murder instead of a ticket to the electric chair? The reason, as an […]

Martin DyckmanAugust 17, 2014

There are some things for a judge not to do. Picking a fist fight — in court — with an assistant public defender is one. John C. Murphy, a Brevard County judge, has just been charged with that. He could be kicked off the bench. Some other no-no’s, as previously decided by Florida’s Judicial Qualifications […]

Tag: juries

House argues prosecutors have no discretion on death penalties

Martin Dyckman: Tainted FBI evidence puts Florida convictions in doubt

Martin Dyckman: Ferguson prosecutor should have recused himself because of his police ties

Martin Dyckman: Judges should not bad-mouth a jury