HB 555/SB 450 - Expanding the Death Penalty

Ends the requirement for unanimous juries in death penalty cases, and allows the imposition of death based on as few as 8 jurors.

Ends the requirement for unanimous juries in death penalty cases, and allows the imposition of death based on as few as 8 jurors. Allows judges to override a jury’s recommendation of a life sentence and instead impose death. If this passes Florida will be one of only two states in the country that impose death on people without requiring a unanimous jury and the only state to allow a death sentence based on as few as 8 jurors - a foolish idea for a state that already leads the nation in exonerations of those on death row.