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Florida Supreme Court Upholds Gov. Rick Scott’s Removal of State Attorney Aramis Ayala From Capital Cases

By  //  August 31, 2017

'Today’s ruling is great victory for the many victims'

The Supreme Court of Florida on Thursday upheld Gov. Rick Scott’s removal of Orange and Osceloa State Attorney Aramis Ayala from trying murder cases after she announced she would not seek capital punishment penalties.

TALLAHASSE, FLORIDA – The Supreme Court of Florida on Thursday upheld Gov. Rick Scott’s removal of Orange and Osceloa State Attorney Aramis Ayala from trying murder cases after she announced she would not seek capital punishment penalties.

In a 5-2 ruling, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of Scott, who stripped Ayala of nearly 30 cases after her office declared it would no longer pursue the death penalty. Scott then reassigned the cases to neighboring State Attorney Brad King.

Ayala fought back, taking the matter to court in April, alleging Scott didn’t have the authority to take away her cases.

Governor Rick Scott made the following statement after the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to uphold his use of executive authority to protect victims of crime:

“Today’s ruling is a great victory for the many victims and families whose lives have been forever changed by ruthless, evil acts of crime. I absolutely disagreed with State Attorney Ayala’s shortsighted decision to not fight for justice. That’s why I’ve used my executive authority to reassign nearly 30 cases to State Attorney Brad King. These horrific cases include Markeith Loyd, an accused cop killer who murdered his pregnant ex-girlfriend and Orlando Police Department Lt. Debra Clayton; Everett Glenn Miller, another alleged cop killer who is accused of ambushing and murdering two Kissimmee Police Officers, Officer Matthew Baxter and Sgt. Sam Howard; and Callene Marcia Barton and Lakesha Chantell Lewis, who are accused of killing a helpless toddler.”

[CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COURT’S OPINION]

“Crimes like these are pure evil and deserve the absolute full consideration of punishment – something that State Attorney Ayala completely ruled out. She unilaterally decided to not stand on the side of victims and their families, which is completely sickening. In Florida, we hold criminals fully accountable for the crimes they commit – especially those that attack our law enforcement community and innocent children.”

State Attorney Ayala Says Governor’s Move To Reassign 21 First-Degree Murder Cases ‘Abuse of Power’Related Story:
State Attorney Ayala Says Governor’s Move To Reassign 21 First-Degree Murder Cases ‘Abuse of Power’

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