Florida’s Aramis Ayala was one of the criminal justice reform victories this past election, becoming the first black person in Florida’s history to be elected prosecutor. She had to overcome racist campaign attacks to achieve this victory. Today she announced that she would not seek the death penalty in cases she tried, after a review of Florida’s insane criminal justice system, because “I have determined that doing so is not in the best interest of the community or the best interest of justice.”
She said studies have shown death has no safety benefits for the public or law enforcement, costs more than a life sentence and generally does not work as a deterrent because it’s used “too rarely.”
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“Some victims will support and some will surely oppose my decision, but I have learned that death penalty traps many victim’s families in decades long cycle of uncertainty,” she said. “...I cannot in good faith look a victim’s family in the face and promise that a death sentence handed down in our courts will ever result in execution.”
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Governor Rick Scott has recently signed a bill that would require a unanimous jury recommendation before the death penalty. Unbelievably this is an actual improvement from previous Florida’s 7-5 minimum jury vote required for a death sentence. Ayala’s decision has its bloodthirsty detractors and even a high profile “blue lives matter” tragedy for people to hang their racism on.
The most visible case immediately affected by Ayala's decision is Loyd's, who is charged with killing Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton and his pregnant ex-girlfriend.
Here’s Governor Rick Scott.
"I want to be very clear, Lt. Debra Clayton was executed while she was laying on the ground fighting for her life. She was killed by an evil murderer who did not think twice about senselessly ending her life. I completely disagree with State Attorney Ayala's decision and comments and I am asking her to recuse herself immediately from this case. She has made it abundantly clear that she will not fight for justice for Lt. Debra Clayton and our law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line every day," Scott said.
And here’s Florida Attorney General and candidate for most corrupt Trump troll Pam Bondi blathering away.
"State Attorney Aramis Ayala’s decision today sends a dangerous message to residents and visitors of the greater Orlando area—furthermore, it is a blatant neglect of duty and a shameful failure to follow the law as a constitutionally elected officer,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.
I think letting frauds bankrupt your citizens in education scams while taking cash contributions from them sent that message, Ms. Bondi.