We wish our group did not have to exist, but thank you for joining our efforts towards the abolition of the death penalty.
There are a lot of litigations at the moment in Florida regarding the 8-4 "new" rule and a lot of confusion regarding the applicability of the new capital sentencing statute when it comes to Hurst resentencings: defendants that had a death sentence based on a non-unanimous jury saw their sentence vacated and earned a re-sentencing. Unfortunately, the new law requiring only a majority jury of 8-4 passed and now it's just a big mess. Some have been resentenced under the unanimity law already (many getting a life sentence), while some are still waiting for their resentencing and risking being sentenced under the new law, like it was the case in Jackson Vs Florida this June in Duval County. He received a recommendation of death 8-4 and will be officially sentenced later this year.
After being disqualified for Tundidor v. State, the Florida Supreme Court has reprimanded Judge Elizabeth A. Scherer, who presided over the Parkland trial of Nikolas Cruz and was seen embracing members of the prosecution and victims and victims families after sentencing. She was also showing bias against the defense and chastised them. She resigned in May 2023 for unknown reasons.
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