Tag Archives: death penalty

The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in a case focused on whether the state's new death penalty law is constitutional.

Arguing that state law requires it, a who's who of prominent attorneys --- including former presidents of the American Bar Association --- are advising the Florida Supreme Court to reduce the death sentences of all inmates awaiting execution to life in prison.

Late Monday night state legislators reached a final deal on a roughly $80 billion budget and are positioned to approve it later in the week.

On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a measure designed to fix the state's death-penalty after it was found unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in January. The Court found the old system of giving judges, not juries, the power to impose death sentences was an unconstitutional violation of defendants' right to trial by jury.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled nearly a month ago Scott has not made any recommendations and on Wednesday the governor said that he won't weigh in until state legislators send him a bill.

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.

Florida's Supreme Court justices heard arguments for whether they should grant Cary Lambrix, a man scheduled to die Feb. 11, a stay of execution until it can be determined how to apply the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The judge's decision is expected to arrive at any time before Feb. 11.

Attorneys for a convicted murderer scheduled to be put to death on March 17 are asking the Florida Supreme Court to delay the execution, arguing that some records were destroyed.

The Florida Supreme Court has refused to grant a stay in an execution scheduled for next month but ordered oral arguments to hear about the potential impact of a seminal U.S. Supreme Court decision this week striking down the state's death penalty sentencing structure.

Almost three-quarters of Floridians --- 73 percent --- oppose allowing students with concealed-weapons permits to carry guns on campus.