Florida Supreme Court says unanimous jury not needed for death penalty in major reversal

[Disir]

TALLAHASSEE — In a stunning reversal of a previous decision, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a unanimous jury should not be required to sentence someone to death. Federal law, and every state that has the death penalty except Alabama, require unanimous juries for the death penalty, rather than a simple majority.

Florida law used to only require that a majority of the jury make a recommendation to the judge on whether to sentence a defendant to die. The judge then issues a final ruling based on that recommendation. But after a decision by the Florida Supreme Court in 2016 struck down that model in a case called Hurst vs. State, the Legislature changed its law to mandate a unanimous jury.

But Thursday’s ruling opens the door for state lawmakers, if they wish, to return Florida to one of the few states that don’t require a unanimous jury to impose the death penalty.
Florida Supreme Court says unanimous jury not needed for death penalty in major reversal

So, now it shifts back to the state legislature.

 

[rightwinger]

Pretty sick of Florida

 

[Sunni Man]

Good for Florida!! ...

More states should follow its lead. ...

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Pretty sick of Florida

Stupid as well.

It only serves to undermine the legitimacy of the death penalty.

 

[waltky]

Was dat about Patti Hurst...

... holdin' up dat bank?

 

[Corazon]

TALLAHASSEE — In a stunning reversal of a previous decision, the Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a unanimous jury should not be required to sentence someone to death. Federal law, and every state that has the death penalty except Alabama, require unanimous juries for the death penalty, rather than a simple majority.

Florida law used to only require that a majority of the jury make a recommendation to the judge on whether to sentence a defendant to die. The judge then issues a final ruling based on that recommendation. But after a decision by the Florida Supreme Court in 2016 struck down that model in a case called Hurst vs. State, the Legislature changed its law to mandate a unanimous jury.

But Thursday’s ruling opens the door for state lawmakers, if they wish, to return Florida to one of the few states that don’t require a unanimous jury to impose the death penalty.
So, now it shifts back to the state legislature.

This is really strange to me.
In 2016 the Florida Supreme Court said you must have unanimity to sentence somebody to death. Now in 2020 that Court says "no a majority of the jury is enough".
I don't understand. Only 4 years have passed since the first sentence...what happened?

 

[SavannahMann]

The Legislature has deemed it be a unanimous Jury. End of discussion.

 

[Disir]

You have the law rewritten?