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Gov. DeSantis announces proposal to change from unanimous to majority of jurors for death penalty

Gov. DeSantis announces proposal to change from unanimous to majority of jurors for death penalty
IT TOOK EFFECT. GOVERNOR RODGERS HAS UNVEILED A NEW TOUGH ON CRIME LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TODAY, INCLUDING A PUSH TO CHANGE STATE LAW TO ALLOW JURIES TO IMPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY WITHOUT UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT. THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO ALLOW JUST EIGHT OF 12 JURORS TO BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND THE DEATH PENALTY, SOMETHING HE ALLUDED TO LAST FALL WHEN A BROWARD COUNTY JURY DID NOT RECOMMEND THE DEATH PENALTY FOR SCHOOL SHOOTER NIKOLAS CRUZ. UNANIMOUS JURY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEATH SENTENCES BECAME FLORIDA LAW BACK IN 2017. IN RESPONSE TO A STATE SUPREME COURT RULING, THE GOVERNOR ALSO WANTS THE DEATH PENALTY FOR CONVICTIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. NEXT MONTH WILL MARK FIVE YEARS SINCE THAT MASS SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL IN PARKLAND. THE DEADLY ATTACK OCCURRED ON VALENTINE’S D
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Gov. DeSantis announces proposal to change from unanimous to majority of jurors for death penalty
Video above: A look at Thursday's headlines and weatherGov. Ron DeSantis said on Thursday the state will explore ways to have the death penalty for people who rape children, while he also reiterated a call to allow murderers to be sentenced to death without unanimous jury recommendations.In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, held that the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment prevented the death penalty for child rapists. That was based in part on a 1977 decision.The latest: WPBF 25 News coverage on Politics“They (sexual predators) will do whatever they can to satiate themselves at the expense of very, very vulnerable people,” DeSantis said on Thursday as he outlined a series of legislative proposals during an appearance at the Miami Police Benevolent Association. “I believe the only appropriate punishment that would be commensurate to that would be capital.”DeSantis said he doesn’t think the current U.S. Supreme Court would uphold the ruling that barred the death penalty in rape cases. “We understand that it will be challenged, but I think it’s right for us to challenge ... a decision that wasn’t well thought out, was very narrowly decided,” DeSantis said. Meanwhile, DeSantis said he will ask lawmakers to require at least life sentences for convicted child rapists and to expand a list of sex offenses that would make inmates ineligible for gain time, which can lead to early release.Deep Dive: WPBF 25 News InvestigatesDeSantis also again called for changing a law that requires unanimous jury recommendations before judges can impose the death penalty. DeSantis could seek a change to allow recommendations of eight of 12 jurors.DeSantis has made similar comments since October when a jury did not recommend the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, who was convicted of murdering 17 people in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Cruz was sentenced to life in prison. Legislators required unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences in 2017 in response to a Florida Supreme Court ruling.But the court, with new members in 2020, backed away from the ruling, opening the door to non-unanimous jury recommendations.

Video above: A look at Thursday's headlines and weather

Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Thursday the state will explore ways to have the death penalty for people who rape children, while he also reiterated a call to allow murderers to be sentenced to death without unanimous jury recommendations.

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In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, held that the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment prevented the death penalty for child rapists. That was based in part on a 1977 decision.

The latest: WPBF 25 News coverage on Politics

“They (sexual predators) will do whatever they can to satiate themselves at the expense of very, very vulnerable people,” DeSantis said on Thursday as he outlined a series of legislative proposals during an appearance at the Miami Police Benevolent Association. “I believe the only appropriate punishment that would be commensurate to that would be capital.”

DeSantis said he doesn’t think the current U.S. Supreme Court would uphold the ruling that barred the death penalty in rape cases.

“We understand that it will be challenged, but I think it’s right for us to challenge ... a decision that wasn’t well thought out, was very narrowly decided,” DeSantis said.

Meanwhile, DeSantis said he will ask lawmakers to require at least life sentences for convicted child rapists and to expand a list of sex offenses that would make inmates ineligible for gain time, which can lead to early release.

Deep Dive: WPBF 25 News Investigates

DeSantis also again called for changing a law that requires unanimous jury recommendations before judges can impose the death penalty. DeSantis could seek a change to allow recommendations of eight of 12 jurors.

DeSantis has made similar comments since October when a jury did not recommend the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, who was convicted of murdering 17 people in 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Cruz was sentenced to life in prison.

Legislators required unanimous jury recommendations for death sentences in 2017 in response to a Florida Supreme Court ruling.

But the court, with new members in 2020, backed away from the ruling, opening the door to non-unanimous jury recommendations.