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The US Supreme Court declared Florida’s death penalty unconstitutional a month ago and now Florida lawmakers are at odds over how many jurors should be required to recommend a death sentence. Until they settle the question, as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Florida will remain without the ultimate penalty.

Serial killer Ted Bundy went to his death on an 11-1 jury recommendation. John Couey, who killed 9 year old Jessica Lunsford got death on a 10-2 recommendation. Now lawmakers are struggling over how many jurors should be required to send someone to their death. Prosecutor Brad King, testifying before a House committee, said requiring a unanimous verdict like most other states would be a mistake.

“John Couey earned the death penalty by what de did.”

Prosecutors got help from victims like Emilee Cope. Her father was murdered seven years ago.:”

“ He was not able to be there when I learned how to drive. He was not able to be there when I graduated high school” the woman told lawmakers.

After Emilee’s testimony, the House committee voted down legislation requiring all twelve jurors to agree on death.

Instead, they would require a 9-3 vote.

Even at 9-3 or 10-2 Florida would remain an outlier for death cases. Something this court told them more than a decade ago.”

The Senate is pushing for a unanimous verdict, and the two agree, Florida remains without viable death penalty.

And even though his name is on death warrants, Rick Scott is yet to weigh in on the controversy.

“If the legislature passes something, I’ll be glad to review it” is all Scott would say.

A unanimous jury verdict is considered by many to be a safe haven for Florida’s death penalty. Anything else opens the door to more legal challenges.

Only Alabama and Delaware require less than a unanimous jury verdict for death. A recent poll by Public Policy Polling found that 62% of respondents preferred life in prison over the death penalty for convicted murderers, while 35% preferred the death penalty.