Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Florida prosecutor who refuses to seek death penalty has most of her murder cases reassigned
Hot Air.com ^ | April 4, 2017 | JAZZ SHAW

Posted on 04/04/2017 5:15:54 PM PDT by Kaslin

Remember when we talked about Florida State Attorney Aramis Ayala last month? She was assigned the case of Markeith Loyd, a man whose many crimes included executing a police officer in cold blood. Without any warning of her position while running for that office, Aramis declared that she would not seek the death penalty in Loyd’s trial and, just to put some icing on the cake, announced that she wouldn’t be taking that step for any criminals, no matter how heinous their deeds. That got her into a confrontation with Governor Rick Scott (along with an army of enraged constituents) which still hasn’t settled down.

Now it seems that she may not have to worry about it any more. The Governor has made the unusual move of transferring most of her murder trials to somebody else who may be more willing to enforce the current laws of the state. (LA Times)

Florida’s Republican governor on Monday took 21 more first-degree murder cases away from a Democratic prosecutor who has said she will no longer seek the death penalty.

Gov. Rick Scott gave the cases being handled by Orlando-area State Atty. Aramis Ayala to neighboring State Atty. Brad King.

Ayala has come under fire recently after announcing she wouldn’t seek the death penalty against Markeith Loyd or any other defendant. Loyd is charged with killing an Orlando police lieutenant and his pregnant former girlfriend this year. Scott took the Loyd case away from Ayala last month and reassigned it to King.

“If you look at these cases, they are horrendous cases,” Scott told the Associated Press. “And so I’m going to continue to think about the families, and that’s how I made my decision today.”

Ayala has announced her intention to appeal to the state supreme court in an effort to have the Governor’s decision reversed, but it’s really not clear if that’s even within their power. It’s not as if she was fired from her job or received some sort of disciplinary action. There was, in essence, just a management decision made as to how to assign the caseload. If the court wants to dig any further than that they can consider both the fact that Ayala was elected without ever telling the voters that she planned to do this and the way she is hamstringing the judicial system.

That second point is particularly ironic in light of her public comments about this decision. Her spokesperson told reporters that it was the Governor who had, “compromised the independence and integrity of the criminal justice system.” But the integrity of the criminal justice system includes enforcement of the law and the full range of penalties under those laws which have been approved by the voters through their elected representatives. For the time being, capital punishment is on the books and one level of deterrent which Floridians feel enhances their security.

This situation is considerably more complicated because the position of State Attorney is an elected one in Florida. In many other states Ayala might simply have been fired. (Yes, she could have appealed that, but her case load would have been reshuffled in the meantime anyway.) As it stands, it might require impeachment of some form to put her out of office. In the meantime, with these cases int he hands of Brad King, they should move forward with the full set of approved options on the table.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: attorney; capitalpunishment; crime; deathpenalty; murder; prosecutor
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-26 next last

1 posted on 04/04/2017 5:15:55 PM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Good for Governor Scott!


2 posted on 04/04/2017 5:22:17 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (It's not gun violence, it's thug violence)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Kind of a big deal here in Florida. The Miami media has been basically silent on it, because it makes Rick Scott look good and they hate his guts.


3 posted on 04/04/2017 5:24:54 PM PDT by SoFloFreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VeniVidiVici

4 posted on 04/04/2017 5:31:48 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

From her pictures, she’s obviously a Negress. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that she would stand up for her home team. (For those who haven’t guessed, Markeith Loyd is a Gentleman of Color).


5 posted on 04/04/2017 5:32:33 PM PDT by PAR35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Great news!


6 posted on 04/04/2017 5:33:48 PM PDT by ColdOne ((I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11~ Best Election Ever!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Unless Scott’s planning on running again in 2022, he doesn’t have anything to worry about.


7 posted on 04/04/2017 5:42:13 PM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

She deceived the voters in Orlando. She never disclosed that she would not uphold the law in Florida. When asked by a reporter why she didn’t tell her constituents that she was against the death penalty her response was, “now they know”. Nice!
Also, she is a Soros shill and he donated a huge sum to her campaign, so you can tell where this was going. Gov. Scott has been terrific in dealing with her.


8 posted on 04/04/2017 5:46:54 PM PDT by marygam (can this country do a U turn and be great again?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

She deceived the voters in Orlando. She never disclosed that she would not uphold the law in Florida. When asked by a reporter why she didn’t tell her constituents that she was against the death penalty her response was, “now they know”. Nice!
Also, she is a Soros shill and he donated a huge sum to her campaign, so you can tell where this was going. Gov. Scott has been terrific in dealing with her.


9 posted on 04/04/2017 5:47:28 PM PDT by marygam (can this country do a U turn and be great again?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PAR35

From her pictures, she’s obviously a Negress. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that she would stand up for her home team. (For those who haven’t guessed, Markeith Loyd is a Gentleman of Color).


FWIW The female police officer was also black.


10 posted on 04/04/2017 5:53:06 PM PDT by chaosagent (Remember, no matter how you slice it, forbidden fruit still tastes the sweetest!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: marygam

She definitely needs to be disbarred stat


11 posted on 04/04/2017 6:04:53 PM PDT by Kaslin ( The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triump. Thomas Paine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: marygam

She is a black, female, Democrat. Voters should have figured out that she would act like one. Voters have no excuse.


12 posted on 04/04/2017 6:08:33 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (Socialists want YOUR wealth redistributed, never THEIRS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Orlando PD and local Sheriff’s deputies moved support from somewhat ineffective former SA Jeff Ashton (He lost Casey Anthony case.) and moved to the current woman, Alaya). She publicly promised them she would support death penalty.

They are now furious.

Alaya was elected after last minute cash infusion from George Soros.... and her husband did 7 years federal prison time from drug dealing!!! (No, that is not rumor http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-aramis-ayala-husband-conviction-20160825-story.html )

She says it “helps her understand the criminal justice system!”

We need to be rid of her now!!!


13 posted on 04/04/2017 6:14:43 PM PDT by Strac6 ("We sleep safe in our beds only because rough men stand ready to visit violence on the enemy.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Malingering.


14 posted on 04/04/2017 6:34:01 PM PDT by Joe Bfstplk (A Irredeemable Deplorable Texan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Gee, I miss ole Sparky.


15 posted on 04/04/2017 6:43:23 PM PDT by Slyfox (Where's Reagan when we need him? Look in the mirror - the spirit of The Gipper lives within you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Strac6

I have to hand it to our governor. He showed a degree of courage doing this, while also giving a morale doesn’t either. to LE.

This attorney has found that while she was bought by Soros, not every politician has been. She’s elected carry out the law. If she wants to change it, run for the state legislature.

Here in Orlando I’ve not run across any black people that support her, and they tell me the “community” doesn’t either.


16 posted on 04/04/2017 6:53:28 PM PDT by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: SE Mom

Oy, typing on phone, above sentence should have read “while also giving a morale boost to LE”.


17 posted on 04/04/2017 6:55:06 PM PDT by SE Mom (Screaming Eagle mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Its called “fire her ass.”


18 posted on 04/04/2017 7:05:31 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Good to see Scott showing some boldness for a change.


19 posted on 04/04/2017 8:04:20 PM PDT by Socon-Econ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“without any warning” well voters should have ascertained this.


20 posted on 04/04/2017 8:05:46 PM PDT by Persevero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-26 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson