The state of Florida will now only require the agreement of 8 jurors out of 12 to impose the death penalty in a capital felony trial after Republican Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 450 into law. The previous statute once common nationwide required a unanimous decision.
According to The Epoch Times, 27 states in the U.S. still apply the death penalty. Florida now joins only three other states in no longer requiring a unanimous jury, Alabama which requires a supermajority of 10, as well as Missouri and Indiana which both allow a judge to intervene in a divided jury.
The bill, sponsored by state Senator Blaise Ingoglia and state Representative Berny Jacques, was signed by DeSantis at a ceremony on Thursday. DeSantis posted an image of the signing to Twitter with a statement,
“Today, I signed legislation ensuring the victims of the most heinous crimes get justice. Once a defendant in a capital case is found guilty by a unanimous jury, one juror should not be able to veto a capital sentence.”
Today, I signed legislation ensuring the victims of the most heinous crimes get justice.
Once a defendant in a capital case is found guilty by a unanimous jury, one juror should not be able to veto a capital sentence. pic.twitter.com/77KeG6H3RN
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 20, 2023
Ingoglio wrote, in his own tweet, “I’m honored to have carried this piece of legislation with @BernyJacques. A big thank you to the Parkland families that traveled up to advocate for this bill becoming a law.”
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Jacques offered a similar statement, writing, “Florida will no longer allow a small handful of activist jurors to derail the full administration of justice when individuals are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and meet the qualifications for the death penalty. Special thanks to the Parkland families who stepped up to help make this happen.”
Florida will no longer allow a small handful of activist jurors to derail the full administration of justice when individuals are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and meet the qualifications for the death penalty.
Special thanks to the Parkland families who stepped up to… pic.twitter.com/e3GBAS6yEz
— Berny Jacques (@BernyJacques) April 20, 2023
DeSantis and Florida legislators began calling for this reform after three jurors derailed the death sentence of Nikolas Cruz, found guilty of murdering 17 people in cold blood at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The 2018 school shooting was one of the deadliest in American history and in October 2022, many victims’ families were outraged at the result. Subsequently, Cruz was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole the Times reported citing the Death Penalty Information Center.
Tony Montalto, father of victim Gina Montalto told reporters, “This bill is about victims’ rights, plain and simple. It allows the victims of heinous crimes a chance to get justice and have the perpetrators punished to the full extent of the law.”
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