Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill ending the unanimous jury requirement for death penalty cases.
The legislation was prompted by outrage over three jurors opting to spare the life of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz.
Cruz killed 17 people in the February 14, 2018, massacre. One of the jurors felt strongly that he should not be sentenced to death due to being mentally ill. Two other jurors believed that the mitigating evidence outweighed the aggravating evidence.
Under the new law, just eight of the twelve jurors must support sentencing someone to death.
A death sentence can still only be imposed if all jurors agree that there is at least one aggravating factor beyond a reasonable doubt proving guilt.
And more states should take DeSantis’s lead
I am thinking more every day about moving to Florida. This is another encouragement.
Trump has set the record straight on Florida now. Little Ron loses!