TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is overhauling the death penalty in a bid to resume executions after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the state's current sentencing law was unconstitutional.
The Florida Legislature on Thursday sent to Gov. Rick Scott a bill that would require that at least 10 out of 12 jurors recommend execution in order for it be carried out. Florida previously only required that a majority of jurors recommend a death sentence.
The Legislature rewrote the law because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in January that the current method is unconstitutional. The court noted the current law allows judges to reach a different decision than juries, which has only an advisory role in recommending death.
In the aftermath of the ruling the state Supreme Court has halted two pending executions. Courts cases across the state have been halted until the Legislature acted.