Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorApril 11, 2017

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For so long, prosecutors have repeated the mantra that the death penalty is needed for murder victims’ families and to provide them justice. This idea developed into an unquestioned assumption that guided many district attorneys in handling cases and crafting campaign messages. Yet the recent announcement by State Attorney Aramis Ayala of Orlando, Florida, to […]

Melissa RossMay 23, 2016

Death penalty opponents in Jacksonville are rallying Thursday night at an event honoring the late Shelby Farah. Titled “Not In My Name,” the evening is billed as “bringing awareness about the death penalty and the trauma inflicted on victims and family members within the criminal justice system.” Farah was just 20 when she was murdered […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 24, 2016

The Shelby Farah murder trial has become an increasingly heated conflict between Public Defender Matt Shirk and State Attorney Angela Corey. A major issue is the decision of Bernie de la Rionda in the State Attorney’s Office to show the surveillance video of the telephone store clerk’s slaying to her brother, Caleb. Shelby Farah’s mother Darlene Farah was vehemently […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2016

Celllphone store clerk Shelby Farah‘s 2013 slaying shocked Jacksonville to its core. And a sharp debate continues between the State Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office on whether the trial of James Xavier Rhodes should be a death penalty case. Farah’s mother, Darlene Farah, and State Attorney’s Office prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda disagree that the death […]

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 […]

Melissa RossJanuary 19, 2016

Death penalty cases across Florida have been thrown into a state of uncertainty after last week’s Supreme Court ruling finding the state’s sentencing system for capital cases unconstitutional. That’s simply more heartache for Jacksonville’s Farah family, who say they simply want closure after the 2013 slaying of Shelby Farah. “I never believed in the death […]

Julie DelegalSeptember 22, 2015

My heart doesn’t bleed for murderers. My father was a homicide detective whose life was cut short, in part, by the stress and strain of putting bad guys in prison. He helped send his share to death row, too. It was a grisly job, being a janitor to humanity. Dad supported the use of capital […]

Julie DelegalSeptember 21, 2015

My heart doesn’t bleed for murderers. My father was a homicide detective whose life was cut short, in part, by the stress and strain of putting bad guys in prison. He helped send his share to death row, too. It was a grisly job, being a janitor to humanity. Dad supported the use of capital […]

Tag: Shelby Farah

Darlene Farah: Prosecutors recognize death penalty’s harm to victims’ families

Jax death penalty opponents to rally in honor of the late Shelby Farah

Jax Public Defender accuses State Attorney’s Office of violating confidentiality in Shelby Farah trial

Shelby Farah murder trial resumes Monday in Jacksonville

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

Jax death penalty case in spotlight after Supreme Court ruling

Julie G. Delegal: Cruel and unusual punishment for one murder victim’s family

Julie G. Delegal: The third rail in death penalty debate: The victim's family