Florida Supreme Court considers overturning death sentences
Source: Washington Post
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The lives of nearly 400 death row inmates hang in the balance during oral arguments Thursday before Florida’s Supreme Court, which will ultimately decide if their sentences should be reduced to life in prison.
The hearing comes in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that found Florida’s system of sentencing people to death unconstitutional.
The nation’s high court said Florida’s system gave too much power to judges, rather than juries, in imposing capital punishment.
The Florida Supreme Court will not rule Thursday but use the arguments to help decide whether to reduce the sentences of the state’s 389 death row inmates.
<more>
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/florida-supreme-court-considers-overturning-death-sentences/2016/05/05/309c02de-1294-11e6-a9b5-bf703a5a7191_story.html
