Florida Death Penalty Unconstitutional

This morning, the United States Supreme Court, in an 8 - 1 decision, has ruled that Florida's system for sentencing persons to death is unconstitutional.  The system is set up to where the same jury who found the accused guilty, will participate in the "penalty phase" of the trial.  During the penalty phase, both the State and Defense will put on testimony and offer evidence in an effort to sway a jury into deciding to rule in favor of death or life in prison.  The problem the Court found was that regardless of the jury's decision, the ultimate decision power rested in the hands of the trial Judge. 
Location: 501 N Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is a Felony Offense

  Felony Offenses in Florida In the State of Florida, criminal violations are classified as either a misdemeanor or felony offense.  A misdemeanor offense is one that is punishable by up to one year in the County Jail.  Felony offenses, which are more serious than misdemeanor offenses, carry significantly harsher penalties.  Florida Statute §775.082 defines the classifications of felony offenses in the State of Florida.  A felony offense can be classified as a capital offense, a life felony, a first-degree felony, a second-degree felony, and a third-degree felony. A  capital felony offense  is one that is punishable by death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.  Most often, people recognize first-degree murder as a capital offense.  However, in certain instances,  sexual battery  can be classified as a capital felony offense even though it is not punishable by death. The next level of felony offense is a  lif...
Read more

What Should I Do After I Have Been Arrested

What Should I Do After I Have Been Arrested All too often, when I meet with clients, one of the first questions I am asked is, “what should I have done after I was arrested?”  The simplest response is, keep your mouth shut.  The 5th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that an individual cannot be compelled by the government to provide incriminating information about themselves.  This is the so-called “Right to Remain Silent.”  So, if you are placed under arrest, remember that you have the right to remain silent .  You also have the right to speak with an attorney .  Finally, you have the right to refuse consent to a search of your person or belongings assuming the officer does not have a warrant.  Keep in mind that the officer does have the right to pat you down if there is concern that you may possess a weapon.  Should the officer ignore your refusal to give consent, this will provide a ground for a suppression motion at ...
Read more

How Do I Find the Right Seminole County Criminal Defense Attorney

An arrest is not something that anyone ever plans for.  But when it happens, decisions must be made quickly.  Your first order of business is contacting a bondsman to get yourself out of jail.  Once this accomplished, your next order of business is finding a Seminole County Criminal Defense Lawyer to defend you.  Finding the best lawyer can make the difference in the outcome of your case.   First, find a lawyer that you can trust and communicate with.  Too often, I end up handling cases where clients come to me after finding that the lawyer they initially hired never returned their calls.  Communication is important.  Next, find a lawyer who focuses their practice on criminal defense.  Law Firms that tell you that they can help you with your criminal case, personal injury case, and family law case will not be a good fit.  When your liberties are at stake, you do not want a lawyer who primarily...
Read more