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Gov. Scott Reassigns 21 Death Penalty Cases

Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala speaks with reporters about her decision to not pursue the death penalty during her administration.
Renata Sago
/
WMFE

In a series of executive orders, Florida Governor Rick Scott has reassigned 21 death penalty cases in ninth judicial circuit.  The state attorney there is refusing to pursue capital punishment.

Gov. Scott is handing nearly two dozen capital cases to State Attorney Brad King—reassigning them from State Attorney Aramis Ayala’s circuit.  The move represents a further escalation in an ongoing spat between Florida’s top Republicans and the Orlando area prosecutor. 

The new attorney, Brad King, is an outspoken proponent of capital punishment and represents the judicial circuit northwest of Ayala’s. 

Both the House and Senate budget proposals cut 21 positions from Ayala’s office in the wake of her decision not to pursue the death penalty.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.