BREAKING: Gov. DeSantis signs capital sex crime legislation.
The legislation, which extends capital punishment beyond established constitutional limits, goes into effect in October.
Monday morning, Governor DeSantis received the legislation that expands capital punishment in Florida to certain sex crimes against children under the age of 12.
At a press conference Monday afternoon with Attorney General Ashley Moody and Sheriff Wayne Ivey, the Governor signed the legislation. It is set to go into effect October 1, 2023. About the legislation, Governor DeSantis said: “We’re making clear that, in Florida, we stand for the protection of children.”
The language of the bill is clear that it seeks to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2008 decision in Kennedy v. Louisiana, which held that punishing these crimes by death violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (More on that here.) Regarding Kennedy, DeSantis said, “We think that decision was wrong.” Litigation about the constitutionality of the legislation will likely begin soon.