Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanMarch 22, 2017

aramis-alaya-03.21.17-e1490117656720.jpg

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 […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes called late Monday for Gov. Rick Scott to reassign all potential death penalty cases under the jurisdiction of State Attorney Aramis Ayala and to suspend her from office. Cortes, who was among the first critics of Ayala’s “no death penalty” policy announced last week, said in a letter to Scott […]

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 20, 2017

More than 100 current or former judges, prosecutors, law professors and other legal scholars — including two former Florida Supreme Court chief justices — have signed a letter to Gov. Rick Scott expressing their support Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s right to decide not to pursue death penalty cases and urging the governor to back […]

Mitch PerryMarch 17, 2017

After Rick Scott removed Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala from the case of accused cop killer Markeith Loyd after she announced she would not pursue the death penalty in his or any other case during her tenure. Later, Dover House Republican Ross Spano called on Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren to condemn Ayala’s actions. Warren refused, saying that he would seek out the death penalty only […]

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 17, 2017

Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s decision to not pursue death penalty cases drew blistering criticism from one of Florida’s police union heads who called her a coward and a traitor. John Rivera, president of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, blasted Ayala in a press release saying that her decision outraged law enforcement officers. He called […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 19, 2017

Murder suspect Markeith Loyd appeared in court early Thursday morning for an arraignment hearing, at which he went on a profanity-laced rant aimed at the accusations against him. The judge has also ordered Loyd held without bond. According to the Ninth Judicial Circuit State’s Attorney’s office, Loyd does not yet have an attorney representing him. […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 18, 2017

District 11 Senator Randolph Bracy, who has made criminal justice a priority from the start of his term, applauded the capture of suspected killer Markeith Loyd Tuesday night. Loyd is suspected in the murders of his pregnant girlfriend, Sade Dixon, last December and of Master Sergeant Debra Clayton earlier this month. Bracy said the arrest […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 17, 2017

Markeith Loyd, suspected in the killing of Master Sergeant Debra Clayton in a shootout last week, was caught after over a week of hunting by the Orlando Police Department Tuesday night. He’ll face multiple charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault. Loyd has been the subject of a nine-day-long manhunt by the OPD as well as […]

Tag: Markeith Loyd

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

Bob Cortes calls for Rick Scott to suspend Aramis Ayala, reassign all her capital cases

Aramis Ayala files stay to keep Markeith Loyd case

More than 100 justices, judges, law professors express support for Aramis Ayala

Julianne Holt expresses concerns about Rick Scott’s move on Aramis Ayala

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

Police union head John Rivera calls Aramis Ayala coward

At first court appearance, Markeith Loyd goes on expletive-filled rant about death of girlfriend

Randolph Bracy applauds the arrest of suspected killer Markeith Loyd

John Mina: ‘Great police work’ led to the capture of murder suspect Markeith Loyd