STAND YOUR GROUND COURT DECISION

A South Florida appeals court has upheld the constitutionality of a controversial change to the state’s Stand Your Ground self-defense law. In that decision the 3rd District Court of Appeal disagreed with a Miami-Dade County circuit judge, who ruled that a legislative change was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers. the 2017 change shifted the burden from defendants to prosecutors to prove whether self-defense claims are justified. The Court of Appeal said the Legislature did not overstep its constitutional authority in shifting the burden of proof.