Judge says jury should decide death penalty

U.S. Federal District Judge Jose Martinez ruled that Florida’s death penalty is unconstitutional because juries, not judges, should be the ones to determine ‘aggravating factors’ in sentencing criminals to die.

According to the Miami Herald, the landmark ruling does not strike down Florida’s capital-punishment law. But it could force lawmakers to change the statute, and could give recent convicts new avenues for appeal.

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