First Committee Hearings on Jury Recommendation Bills

This week, committees in both the Senate and the House held hearings on the bills seeking to change the way Florida imposes the death penalty.

Both the Senate and the House held committee hearings this week on the proposed legislation that would change Florida’s capital sentencing scheme to have the lowest standard in the country. (More on that here.)

Senate Committee on Criminal Justice

First, the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard the bill at a hearing on Monday, March 6. The full hearing can be accessed by clicking on the picture below.

After the bill’s Sponsor, Senator Blaise Ingoglia, introduced the bill, the committee asked several questions. As this op-ed explains, the answers Ingoglia gave were fraught with misinformation.

After questions, the committee heard testimony from members of the public on both sides of the bill.

After the hearing, the Senate committee voted 6-2 to approve the bill.

House Criminal Justice Subcommittee

Second, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee heard the bill at a hearing on Tuesday, March 7. The full hearing can be accessed by clicking on the picture below.

The bill’s Sponsor, Representative Berny Jacques, introduced the bill. The House committee did not ask any questions.

The committee heard testimony from members of the public on both sides of the bill.

After the hearing, the House committee voted 13-5 to approve the bill.

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Misinformation at the Hearings

As Maria DeLiberato and I explained in this op-ed published by City and State Florida, the discussion and debate at the hearings included a lot of misinformation. For brevity, I’ll hit the high notes here:

• Unanimity is not an “over-the-top” standard. Right now, only one state in the country (Alabama) does not require unanimity in the jury’s final recommendation for death. Unanimity legislation is pending there.

• Even under the current statute requiring unanimity, Florida led the country on death sentences for 4 of the past 5 years.

• Data indicates the death penalty is not a deterrent.

• If this statute is enacted and later overturned, it will almost certainly result in resentencing proceedings for those sentenced to death under it—as we saw in 2016.¹

The bottom line:

Absolutely no one denies that the Parkland shooting was a heartbreaking tragedy. That will never change. But this legislation is not the answer. Rather than offering solace and peace, this misinformed legislation will almost certainly bring uncertainty and chaos for current and future victims, and burden the court systems for decades to come. 

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Because both committees approved the bills, they now move forward to the next committee in each chamber. Stay tuned.

1. I promise more on that is coming soon.