[FL] New Death Penalty law – jury requirement

On April 20th, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the non-unanimity death penalty sentencing bill SB 450 into law. It took effect immediately. Until then, a unanimous jury was required for a judge to be able to sentence someone to death. With this new law, only a majority of 8-4 is required, the lowest threshold in the whole country (all States require unanimous jury except for Alabama where a majority of 10-2 is required).

We expect the Governor to sign another bill into law anytime now that expands capital punishment to non-homicide sex crimes against children under the age of 12. The terms are so broad it is unclear if gender affirming care could be considered a sex crime.