Florida's Death Penalty Laws Deemed Unconstitutional

By Kyle Munzenrieder Wed., Jun. 22 2011 at 3:21 PM

Categories: News

Florida's particular method of sentencing prisoners to death has been deemed unconstitutional by Miami U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez today. The decision will not immediately strike down the law and didn't find the death penalty in and of itself unconstitutional. Though, it will guarantee convicted murderer Paul H. Evans will receive a new sentencing trial.

According to the AP, Martinez ruled the law unconstitutional because "jurors are not required to announce specific findings on aggravating factors required to justify the death penalty."

Jurors in Florida are only asked to vote on whether a convict deserves the death penalty by a simple majority vote, and only announce the finding. Though, the judge gets the final say in sentencing.

Martinez's ruling cited a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that jurors must disclose aggravating factors.

It's up to Attorney General Pam Bondi's office to appeal the decision.

Evans was previously convicted for the 1991 murder of Alan Pfeiffer after he was hired by Pfeiffer's wife.

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Tags:

Judge Jose Martinez, Paul H. Evans

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Kaylisnana

It is just an OPINION of this judge. You kill someone in my family and you will get the death one way or the other......!!

Angela Garcia as NeonMosfet

It works like this. Medical science has advanced such that practically anything in the human body that is organic, can be used for spare parts. As the demand for spare body parts rises, so will the number of crimes crossing over to the capital list. Depending on who needs the part, they will say, that, you did the crime.

Angela Garcia as NeonMosfet

Sophie

Why would convicts deserve these constitutional rights in the first place?

Lunch

I'm more pissed that the reporter actually put this sentence in his/her article: Though, the judge gets the final say in sentencing.

What the hell does that mean (other than evidence of poor writing skills)? Use "However" and sound professional please. THIS is Journalism?

Aaron

What's left of it.

Jake

How about just using "But" instead of however, which is a three-syllable word followed by a comma as opposed to the simple one word contrast of "but".