The Florida legislature sent Governor Rick Scott [official page] a bill [HB 7101 materials] on Thursday revamping the state’s death penalty law. The changes are in response to the US Supreme Court ruling in January that the state’s current sentencing scheme is unconstitutional [JURIST report]. The new legislation requires jurors to be unanimous on aggravating factors and for 10 of 12 jurors to recommend execution.
The uncertainty in the law has forced the state to delay scheduled executions [JURIST article]. The previous law was deemed unconstitutional because the state permitted judges to determined whether an individual should be sentenced to death rather than the jury. The bill passed the state Senate and House of Representatives and is awaiting approval by the governor.
