Republican Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, signed a bill on Monday that legalizes the death penalty for child rape convictions, despite a prior U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prohibited capital punishment in similar cases. It was one of three bills pertaining to criminal law. Two pieces of legislation recently introduced in Florida would do two very different things: (1) enhance criminal penalties for selling fentanyl disguised as candy or other food products, and (2) require the Florida Supreme Court to create a uniform bail structure for all state courts. The latter also prohibits individuals charged with heinous crimes from being granted bail before their first hearing. These bills were approved by bipartisan support and will go into effect in October.
To encourage the conservative-controlled U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a 2008 judgment that deemed capital punishment unconstitutional in child sexual battery cases, DeSantis signed a death penalty measure. Although Florida is among several states that still allow for capital punishment in child rape convictions, it has not been used due to the Supreme Court ruling that Florida’s Supreme Court also upheld.
Although DeSantis has taken some heat for his fight with Disney, he is pressing ahead with plans to run for president in 2024 by spreading his conservative platform on crime and other issues. During the signing ceremony, DeSantis seemed confident about his ability to implement his conservative policy, stating: “We’re really delivering a big agenda. So this is one important – but admittedly very small part – of an overall large agenda and very bold agenda that’s really setting the terms of the debate for the country, quite frankly.”
By signing the bill to end a unanimous jury requirement in death penalty sentencing, DeSantis paved the way for capital punishment if the jury vote is at least 8-4 in favor of execution. During the signing of the bill to enhance criminal penalties for selling fentanyl, DeSantis condemned liberal jurisdictions for their “bail reforms”. These legislative priorities reflect DeSantis’ ambitious goals for Florida’s Republican supermajority, which will lay the foundation for his predicted bid for the presidency in 2024.
