Justices review Florida’s death penalty sentencing system

Timothy Lee Hurst was convicted of murdering his manager inside a Popeye’s restaurant. and the jury recommended a death sentence by a 7-5 vote.

Florida’s unique system for imposing the death penalty is encountering a few skeptics on the Supreme Court.

Key findings that determined whether he received the death penalty were impermissibly made by a judge rather than a jury, Hurst’s lawyers argued as the high court heard oral arguments in the case.

“This possibility hardly inspires confidence that Florida has any clue what the jury’s vote meant in this case”, the document said. The judge considers factors independently and can reach a different decision.

Two cases before the Florida Supreme Court could result in an escalation of workers’ compensation rates, the president of the state’s chamber of commerce warned in an opinion piece.

“In virtually every case where the state sought death, the defense counsel has routinely found Florida’s sentencing is unconstitutional”, Miller said.