Florida revised its death penalty laws

Recently, Florida legislature passed a new bill requiring at least 10 out of 12 jurors recommend death penalty for it be carried out. Florida previously required that a majority of jurors recommend death sentences. In January 2016, however, Florida U.S. Supreme Court found that Florida’s current law unconstitutional reasoning that it allowed judges to reach a different decision than juries, which has only advisory role in recommending the death penalty for the convicted.

Also, this new law prohibits judges from imposing the death penalty if the jury doesn’t recommend it.

Death penalty still remains a controversial issue in the US. In February one of US Court of Appeals rejected a Georgia death row inmate’s legal fight against death penalty. In January, Mississippi Attorney General  stated that if the state prohibits lethal injection,  he plans to ask legislators to pass a bill approving the firing squad, electrocution or nitrogen gas as an alternative method of execution.