Once again, lawmakers rushed to address the court decision during this year’s legislative session and sent a measure requiring unanimous jury recommendations — the first bill to pass both chambers — to Scott. He signed the legislation on March 13.
But, while the governor and the Republican-dominated Legislature may believe the new law resolved Florida’s court-related problems, 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala focused a new spotlight on the death penalty when she announced days later that she would not seek death sentences in any cases during her time in office.
Ayala, whose circuit includes Orange and Osceola counties and who is the first black state attorney elected in Florida, said she reached her conclusion after deciding that “doing so is not in the best interest of this community or the best interest of justice.”
She cited research showing death sentences are not a deterrent to crime, are prohibitively costly and do a disservice to victims’ families, who may wait decades without seeing those convicted of killing their loved ones finally executed.
