Florida Puts End to Unanimous Jury Vote Requirement for Death Sentence

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., on March 7, 2023. Cheney Orr/AFP via Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave final approval to a measure that puts an end to the requirement that all jury members need to vote unanimously to recommend the death penalty in capital cases.

The new law, also referred to as Senate Bill 450, now requires just eight out of the total 12 jury members to vote in favor of execution before a judge in a capital felony trial can sentence a defendant to death.