Florida will now be able to sentence convicts to death much more easily. A corresponding bill was signed into law Thursday by Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida joins a group of states that are considered “extreme” when it comes to the death penalty.
In Florida, unanimity is no longer required when it comes to imposing the death penalty. Under the new law, people can be sentenced to death even if four of the 12 jurors oppose it.
The measure had strong support in the Republican-controlled legislature, Reuters reports. Since October 2022, Republican circles have been increasingly calling for tightening of the law.
The trial of Parkland’s shooter sparked debate
A jury at the time failed to agree on a unanimous death sentence for Nikolas Cruz, who was convicted of killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The 2018 school shooting is considered one of the deadliest at a school in US history.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, three jurors voted against the death sentence, meaning Cruz was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
DeSantis, who is considered a promising candidate for the 2024 presidential election, signed the law in the presence of the victims’ parents. The new rules would guarantee “reasonable fairness” in the future.
The amendment to the law only affects the sentence. Guilt on a defendant still has to be unanimously determined by a jury. “Once a defendant in a felony case is unanimously found guilty by a jury, a single juror should not be allowed to veto a felony verdict,” the Republican wrote on Twitter.
Florida is now on par with Alabama
Florida is now the only state after Alabama that does not require a unanimous jury decision to impose a death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
Most recently, a law in Idaho allowing executions by shooting when lethal injection chemicals are not available has sparked outrage. The civil rights organization ACLU called the law “appalling”. In Florida, too, critics speak of an ‘extreme’ development.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
