05 September 2017 :

Orange County State Attorney Aramis Ayala issued a statement saying she respects the ruling and announcing the formation of a death penalty review panel that will evaluate first-degree murder cases and recommend whether to seek the death penalty. “With implementation of this Panel,” the statement said, “it is my expectation that going forward all first-degree murder cases that occur in my jurisdiction will remain in my office and be evaluated and prosecuted accordingly." The Orlando-area state attorney said a 7-member review panel of assistant state attorneys in her office will review all 1st-degree murder cases and then recommend to her which cases warrant seeking the death penalty. Ayala said she won't have a say in the decisions the 7 members come up with. "I have vested my authority into the review panel and I have no intention of usurping the authority which I granted," Ayala said from the steps of the Orange County Courthouse. She said that if the review panel, comprised of 6 prosecuting attorneys along with the assigned state attorney, reaches a unanimous decision to seek the death penalty she will accept their recommendation. She said the panel includes attorneys who have sought the death penalty in past cases and are not opposed to pursuing capital punishment going forward. "I have chosen this team of experienced prosecutors who I am extremely confident will follow the law," she said. "None of them has either expressed or has been confirmed as having no opposition to death penalty." It's not clear, however, if Scott will go along with the new arrangement. Ayala said Friday she will not continue to fight to have those cases already taken away returned to her office. But she said she intends to remain over all future 1st-degree murder cases. John Tupps, a spokesman for Scott, said the governor will "continue to review" the actions of Ayala's office, but added that "the governor must be convinced that the death penalty will be sought as outlined in Florida law, when appropriate. The governor will always stand with crime victims and their families."