ACLU Comment on the Supreme Court’s Decision on Capital Punishment in Florida
NEW YORK – The Supreme Court today ruled 8-1 in Hurst v. Florida that the state’s system of determining who receives the death penalty is unconstitutional. In Florida, judges, not juries, were deciding whether to impose capital punishment.
Cassandra Stubbs, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Capital Punishment Project, had this comment:
“By striking down Florida’s capital punishment scheme, the Supreme Court restored the central role of the jury in imposing the death penalty. Juries across the country have become increasingly reluctant to vote in favor of death. The court’s ruling thus represents another step on the inevitable road toward ending the death penalty.”
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The Latest in Capital Punishment
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Capital Punishment
The Capital Punishment Project works toward the repeal of the death penalty in the United States through strategic litigation, advocacy, public education, and training programs for capital defense teams.