TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida legislators grappling with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision are promising to keep the death penalty in the state.
A top Senate Republican vowed Wednesday that legislators would pass a bill in the next few weeks to comply with a ruling from the nation's highest court. The court earlier this month found that Florida's death penalty procedure is flawed because it allows judges, not juries, to decide death sentences.
Sen. Greg Evers said one sure change is that legislators will change the number of jurors who must agree to recommend the death penalty.
Currently Florida only requires a simple majority of jurors to recommend the death penalty to the judge. Evers said legislators may require a supermajority or a unanimous verdict.
Judges and prosecutors are delaying death penalty cases in the state due to the uncertain legal situation.
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