A new conservative group wants to end the death penalty in Florida, citing the expense and the morality of taking another life.
Nine members of Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty announced its formation Wednesday in Orlando.
Florida's previous method for imposing the death penalty — giving a judge the final decision after a jury's recommendation — was ruled unconstitutional in 2016, leaving hundreds capital punishment cases in limbo. Many of those cases are now being resentenced under a new law that requires a unanimous jury recommendation for death.
The group held its news conference in front of embattled State Attorney Aramis Ayala's office but claimed no connection to the Democrat. Ayala announced in March she would no longer seek the death penalty, and Republican Gov. Rick Scott responded by transferring almost two dozen cases to another prosecutor.
