DEATH PENALTY RULING 10-18-16

The Florida Supreme Court has struck down a new law intended to fix the state’s death penalty. The Court ruled 5-2 that jury recommendations must be unanimous in order for the death penalty to be imposed. The Court ordered that Timothy Lee Hurst – whose appeal led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision in January – be given a new sentencing hearing and also left the state’s death-penalty sentencing structure in doubt for the second time in a year. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office says they have has not ruled out the possibility of seeking a rehearing from the court.