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Associated PressFebruary 9, 2016

Legislation requiring a unanimous verdict from the jury to recommend the death penalty will head to the state Senate floor after passing a committee vote Monday. The Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee passed its version of a bill (SB 7068) that would revise Florida’s sentencing process for the death penalty. The Legislature is tasked with rewriting […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 8, 2016

His reputation as a harsh critic of the Voting Rights Act and an advocate for corporations preceded John Roberts to his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in September 2005. As chief justice, he said, he would be like a baseball umpire impartially calling balls and strikes. “Umpires don’t make the rules. They apply […]

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 […]

Julie DelegalJanuary 27, 2016

Second of three parts ACLU staff attorney Adam Tebrugge and Jacksonville criminal defense attorney D. Gray Thomas say that Florida law destroys the jury-deliberations process in the penalty phase of first-degree murder trials. But they are not the first people who have noticed the difference between a majority vote and a unanimous one. And it’s […]

Scott PowersJanuary 27, 2016

Before the end of this session, the Florida Senate will pass a reform of death penalty laws, Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Greg Evers vowed Wednesday after hearing legal experts say Florida’s system needs reform even without the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down part of it two weeks ago. Evers also declared, “the state of […]

Scott PowersJanuary 27, 2016

Before the end of this Session, the Florida Senate will pass a reform of death penalty laws, Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Greg Evers vowed Wednesday after hearing legal experts say Florida’s system needs reform even without the recent U.S. Supreme Court two weeks ago ruling that struck down part of it. Evers also declared, “the state of […]

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 […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 14, 2016

Nothing else that government does costs as much as the death penalty in order to accomplish so little. That ought to concern even the most conservative legislators as they cope with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision Tuesday, in Hurst v. Florida, that the state’s capital sentencing process is unconstitutional. The choice now is to […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 13, 2016

Nothing else that government does costs as much as the death penalty in order to accomplish so little. This ought to concern even the most conservative legislators as they cope with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision Tuesday, in Hurst v. Florida, that the state’s capital sentencing process is unconstitutional. The choice now is to […]

Tag: U.S. Supreme Court

Bill requiring unanimous verdict for death penalty in Florida advances

Martin Dyckman: Justice John Roberts has hurt minorities, consumers, democracy

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

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

Julie Delegal: The Florida Legislature’s history of intransigence

Greg Evers vows Florida Senate will reform Florida’s death penalty law

Greg Evers vows state Senate will reform Florida’s death penalty law

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

Martin Dyckman: U.S. Supreme Court ruling should prompt Legislature to abolish death penalty

Martin Dyckman: Supreme Court ruling should prompt Legislature to abolish death penalty