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8 years ago · by · 386 comments

Arkansas Execution Schedule Sparks More Capital Punishment Debate

The state of Arkansas received heavy criticism and sparked new debates over the death penalty after they rushed to carry out an unprecedented series of 8 executions in 11 days during the month of April as its supply of the sedative midazolam was set to expire at the end of the month.  All eight men were convicted of murders that occurred between 1989 and 1999 with some of the crimes described as particularly heinous.  The eight men scheduled for execution were Kenneth Williams, Bruce Ward, Stacey Johnson, Don Williamson Davis, Ledell Lee, Jack Harold Jones, Jason McGehee and Marcel Williams.

Governor Hutchinson signed proclamations setting four execution dates for the eight inmates between April 17 and 27. Two men would be put to death on each of the four dates.  In a statement he said that it was necessary to schedule the executions close together because of doubts about the future availability of one of three drugs the state uses in its lethal-injection procedure.

Arkansas uses a cocktail of three drugs in its lethal injection formula: Midazolam is used to sedate the prisoner, vecuronium bromide paralyzes prisoners and stops their breathing, and potassium chloride stops the heart.  Midazolam is the most controversial of the three since it has repeatedly failed to make prisoners unconscious in other executions, leading to painful deaths.  It is not approved by the FDA to be used as an anesthetic on its own, but doctors do use it combined with other drugs before surgical procedures. That is not the case in prisons.

The hurried schedule hit roadblocks from the moment it was announced as attorneys for the eight men attempted to block the executions- including using the argument that midazolam does not effectively prevent a painful death.  Separate rulings stayed the executions of two of the prisoners, Don Davis and Bruce Ward.  Arkansas appealed the decision in Davis’ case, but the US Supreme Court upheld it.  Then Federal Judge Kristine Baker put a stop to all eight executions on April 15, a decision that the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed two days later.  By the end of April, four of the men received stays for various reasons.

Despite the drug shortage and the controversy over its use-  lethal injection remains the country’s primary method of execution.  The drug shortage has spurred some states to begin adapting new and untested combinations of drugs while other states look at other methods of executions.  Utah, Tennessee and Oklahoma added or broadened their abilities to use a firing squad, electric chair or nitrogen gas.

With the month over and the expiration date passing-the freshly stirred dust on the death penalty debate has not settled.  Capital punishment has long been a divisive issue in the United States with support of it declining to a 40 year low.  According to a 2016 Pew Research Center poll, Americans remain split, with 49 percent in favor and 42 percent against it (9% were undecided).

Nationwide, the number of executions has faced a decline as well.  Since 2007, seven states have abolished the death penalty and the governors of four others have issued moratoria on the practice.  Arkansas is currently one of 31 states with courts that still issue death sentences.

 

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8 years ago · by · 0 comments

Learning About Lyme’s Disease As We Approach The Summer Tick Season.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of one of several types of ticks. The ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected with B. burgdorferi.  In most cases in the US, a tick has to be attached for 24-36 hours for them to spread the bacteria to your blood. 

 

There are 3 stages of Lyme disease.  Stage I symptoms of early localized Lyme disease begin days or weeks after infection. They are similar to the flu and may include chills, fever, general ill feeling, headache, joint pain, muscle pain and stiff neck.  There may be a “bull’s eye” rash, a flat or slightly raised red spot at the site of the tick bite as well.  Symptoms may come and go but it is important to seek treatment as untreated, Lyme disease can spread to the brain, heart, and joints. 

 

Stage 2 (early disseminated Lyme disease) may occur weeks to months after the tick bite and may include numbness or pain in nerve area, paralysis or muscle weakness in the face, heart problems, such as skipped heartbeats (palpitations), chest pain and shortness of breath. 

 

Symptoms of late disseminated Lyme disease or Stage 3 can occur months or years after the infection. The most common symptoms are muscle and joint pain. Other symptoms include joint swelling, abnormal muscle movement, nerve damage, vision problems, pain, muscle weakness, speech problems, cognitive problems, numbness and tingling. 

 

A blood test can be done to check for antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease or in areas where it is common; a doctor can identify Lyme disease by recognizing Stage I symptoms. If it is caught early enough, Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics. Without treatment, complications involving the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur. However, these symptoms and stages are still treatable and curable.

 

It is important to check yourself for ticks after outdoor activities such as gardening, hunting, hiking, walking through tall grass or having contact with a pet that has been outside.  Ticks that carry Lyme disease are so small that they are very hard to see. After returning home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas, including your scalp. Shower soon after coming indoors to wash off any unseen ticks.

 

Removing a tick should be done carefully by grasping the tick close to its head or mouth with tweezers. Do not use your bare fingers. Pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. Avoid squeezing or crushing the tick. Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.  Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Also wash your hands thoroughly.

 

Do NOT try to burn the tick with a match or other hot object, twist the tick when pulling it out or try to kill, smother, or lubricate the tick with oil, alcohol, Vaseline, or similar material.  These methods may cause the tick to salivate (drool) or regurgitate (puke) into the wound. This can cause infection or facilitate the spread of Lyme disease if the tick is infected.  Anyone who has been bitten by a tick should monitoring the site of the bite and pay close attention for any symptoms for 30 days. 

 

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8 years ago · by · 412 comments

140 Afghan Soldiers Killed In Calculated Taliban Attack On Base

At least 140 Afghan soldiers were killed after Taliban militants disguised as soldiers, drove onto a military base and opened fire on soldiers leaving Friday prayers.  Around 130 of the victims were young recruits who had just graduated from military school.  A national day of mourning followed as the calculated Taliban attack was the deadliest on an Afghan military base in the last 16 years.

Camp Shaheen, in northern Afghanistan, was considered one of the nation’s most secure bases in the now relatively peaceful city of Mazar-i-Sharif.  Though the April 21st death toll was high, it could have been much higher.  It began when two pickup trucks with at least eight Taliban fighters disguised as ANA soldiers passed through multiple checkpoints undetected with fake military identification cards used to obtain access.

An intelligence officer who survived the attack said the attackers were clean-shaven and had what they claimed to be a bloody and bandaged, wounded soldier in the backseat.  The “soldier” acted like he was in pain and the disguised attackers claimed it was a medical emergency, insisting that they needed to be let into the base immediately to save the soldier.

As the trucks made it to the final checkpoint which was manned by three guards and no barricade-the guards radioed headquarters to find out if the army hospital was expecting the urgent case.  The guards were instructed to let them through but to inform them that they must leave their cache of weapons at the gate.  The insurgents refused to leave their weapons and a fierce fire fight with the guards ensued.  The Taliban attackers shot all three guards, killing two while the third remains in a critical condition.

After the altercation at the last checkpoint, the attackers made their way into the mosque just as prayers had ended and people were making their way outside.  Armed with a machine gun installed on the roof of one of their trucks, the attackers sprayed bullets into the crowd.

As explosions went off, terrified recruits began running for safety.  Nearby, an attacker in disguise was calmly directing terrified recruits “to safety” by ushering them inside the dining hall.   Trusting the familiar uniform, many young recruits poured in, minutes later, he blew himself up — killing more than 20.

Many recruits ran back into the mosque for safety but the attackers followed them in, mercilessly killing them.  A survivor inside the mosque said that as he “played dead” among bodies of fallen recruits he heard a voice call out that “it was over” and “survivors stand up.”   Slowly, several survivors rose only to be shot dead.

As deadly as this calculated was, if it wasn’t for the altercation at the final checkpoint, it is likely the casualties would have been far higher.   It is believed that the intention of the attackers was to breach the mosque and open fire during final prayers — where 1,500 unarmed personnel would have been easy prey in one enclosed space.

Following the ongoing investigation and amid speculation of inside assistance in the attack, 8 ANA personnel have been arrested while more remain under investigation.  Afghanistan’s defense minister and Army chief have also resigned.

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8 years ago · by · 908 comments

US and North Korea Tensions Continue As THAAD Deployed

Relations between North Korea and the US and South Korea have rapidly deteriorated in recent months, as the rhetoric and military posturing on both sides has increased.  North Korea has threatened to sink a U.S. aircraft carrier that is conducting military drills, along with Japanese ships, in the waters off the Korean Peninsula.

U.S. Aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and guided-missile destroyers USS Michael Murphy and USS Wayne E Meyer have practiced for war with North Korea with a series of military drills.  US allies South Korea and Japan surrounded North Korea with joint exercises on both sides of the Korean peninsula.  The navy fleet is now within “striking range” of North Korea, in the Philippine Sea- just east of the Japanese island of Okinawa.

North Korea conducted its own military drills which involved 300 large-caliber self-propelled guns lined up along the coast where they opened fire with live rounds.  A statement from the South Korean military said the live-fire exercises were in the Wonsan region in the east of the country.  North Korea fired four ballistic missiles toward Japan as part of its exercise targeting US bases there.

Soon after those drills were conducted, the US began to deploy its advanced THAAD anti-missile defense system in South Korea, despite opposition from Russia and China. The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system came THAAD is a missile defense system designed to intercept short and medium-range ballistic missiles as they begin their descent to their targets.   Developed by Lockheed Martin, THAAD missiles use infrared seeker technology to locate their targets and detonate on impact.

Both Russia and China have spoken out against the THAAD deployment.  China’s Foreign Ministry stated that it was “resolutely opposed” to the move and say the missile system actually aims to counter China’s military power in the region, not to contain North Korea.  The deployment also drew protests from hundreds of villagers in Seongju, South Korea, who clashed with police as troops began deploying THAAD hardware on a local golf course.

The Trump administration called the entire US Senate to a meeting at the White House, for a briefing on North Korea with the US secretaries of Defense and State.   President Trump recently stated “North Korea is a big world problem, and it’s a problem we have to finally solve. People put blindfolds on for decades and now it’s time to solve the problem.”  Many fear that Trump is backing himself into a corner with his firm stance on North Korea, leading both countries to a point where “bad things are going to happen.”

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8 years ago · by · 0 comments

What Happens If I Don’t Have Health Insurance In 2017?

What Happens if I Don’t Have Health Insurance in 2017?

 

While the Obama ‘Affordable’ Care Act (ACA) aims to decrease the number of uninsured Americans, there are many who remain without coverage for one reason or another.

Kaiser Family Foundation research found that:

  • 48 percent of adults uninsured in 2014 said the main reason they lacked coverage was due to cost
  • 12 percent cited work-related reasons
  • 13 percent were told they were ineligible or could not get coverage due to their immigration status
  • Few uninsured adults were uninsured because they said they didn’t need coverage, opposed the ACA or preferred to pay the penalty

If you are among these individuals, what impact could having no health insurance have on you?

The consequences of going uninsured widely vary based your health and finances, amongst other things. In terms of the ‘Affordable’ Care Act and its individual shared responsibility provision, going without an Obamacare plan can also have tax implications.

What are those tax implications?

It depends on your situation.

 

Do you qualify for an Obamacare ACA exemption?

  • Yes or maybe

While the ‘Affordable’ Care Act’s individual shared responsibility  requires most Americans to have health insurance, there are certain situations in which exemptions are granted. Those who qualify for exemptions will not owe the shared responsibility payment for going without minimum essential coverage. 

Some examples if exemption-eligible circumstances include:

– Having a gross or household income below the minimum threshold for filing a tax return

– Experiencing general hardship due to circumstances such as homelessness, foreclosure, death of a close family member, unpaid medical bills and more

– Being a resident of a state that did not expand Medicaid

Some Obamacare exemptions must be claimed or reported when you file your taxes. Others are automatic. More information is available at IRS.gov. If you believe you might qualify for an exemption, speak with your health insurance producer and/or a financial adviser.

  • No

You are allowed a single period of up to three months without ACA-compliant health insurance coverage. If you do not qualify for an exemption and have no health insurance beyond this, you could owe the shared responsibility payment.

This fee is paid when you file your federal taxes for the year in which you were not compliant with the healthcare reform law. If you went without minimum essential coverage for all or part of 2016, you would pay the Obamacare tax penalty when filing taxes for 2016.

What is the penalty for no health insurance in 2016?

The tax penalty for going without health insurance increased in 2016. It is now the greater of these amounts:

  • 2.5 percent of your income above the filing threshold, capped at the national average premium for a bronze plan available through the Marketplace
  • $695 per adult and $347.50 per child to a maximum family penalty of $2,085

The penalty will continue to adjust annually based on inflation and the flat dollar amounts for 2016.

No health insurance? You could benefit from short term benefits

Whether or not you are exempt from the shared responsibility provision, you might consider some other type of coverage beyond major medical insurance (i.e., an Obamacare plan) to help pay for healthcare expenses.

Short term health insurance provides temporary coverage when you are in between Obamacare plans. While these plans are not ACA-compliant and do not qualify as minimum essential coverage, they do provide a range of benefits for unexpected medical care and often have premiums that are a fraction of major medical insurance premiums.

Short term health plans last as few as 30 days and up to 364, depending on how long you think you will need temporary coverage and the laws in your state.   You can apply and enroll online through websites such as www.HI4E.Org , and you can begin your coverage as soon as the next day.

 

Think short term. Get a quote.

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At Health Insurance 4 Everyone, we not only want to improve our customer service but also interact with our customers on a social media level that was not available before. Interested in connecting with us? Look us up on….

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8 years ago · by · 2 comments

Aaron Hernandez’s Suicide May Benefit His Estate If Conviction Vacated

On April 19th, disgraced NFL player Aaron Hernandez killed himself in his prison cell, officials said.  Hernandez, 27, was found hanging in his cell by corrections officers around 3:05 a.m. and pronounced dead an hour later at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center.  Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit and hanged himself with a bed sheet attached to his cell window.  Officials said Hernandez had given no indication he might try to take his own life and that he had tried blocking his door from the inside with various items.

Just days before, on April 14th, Hernandez was found not guilty in the 2012 double murders of Daniel Jorge Correia de Abreu and Safiro Teixeira Furtado.   Hernandez was already convicted of first-degree murder in the death of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015 and was serving a sentence of life in prison without a possibility of parole.

Hernandez played three seasons with the New England Patriots and in 2012 he signed a $40 million five year contract extension that included a $12.5 million signing bonus.  The Patriots released Hernandez from the team about 90 minutes after his June 2013 arrest in the murder of Odin Lloyd.  Hernandez’s lawyers say they are skeptical of his death being a suicide while many speculate that his suicide was in part-financially motivated.

Hernandez’s arrest and termination led to enormous financial troubles as CytoSport and Puma canceled their endorsement deals and his release from the team automatically forfeited his 2015–18 salaries, totaling $19.3 million.  The Patriots voided all remaining guarantees, including his 2013 and 2014 salaries, on the grounds that those guarantees were for skill, injury, or salary cap room, and did not include being cut for “conduct detrimental to the best interests of professional football.”   The Patriots also planned to withhold $3.25 million of Hernandez’s 2012 signing bonus that was due to be paid in 2014 and to recoup the portion of the signing bonus already paid in an effort to recover some of the millions they lost when cutting him from the team.

Under Massachusetts law, it is possible for Hernandez lawyers to request to have his murder conviction vacated due to his death due to the legal principle of abatement ab initio.  The principle asserts that when a defendant dies but has not exhausted all legal appeals, the case reverts to its status “at the beginning”; technically, the conviction is vacated and the defendant is rendered “innocent”.

At the time of his death, Hernandez was in the process of filing an appeal for his 2015 first degree murder conviction.   On April 25, 2017, lawyers for Hernandez filed a motion at Massachusetts Superior Court in Fall River to vacate his murder conviction.  State prosecutors reserve the right to object to Hernandez’s request.  The family of Odin Lloyd may also petition the court not to vacate the conviction and to keep the appeal alive.

If the request is granted, a number of things can benefit Hernandez’s family and estate.  First, he would not have been in violation of his Patriots contract.  That may mean that the Patriots would have to pay the remaining $15 million of his contract to his estate.  If his murder conviction is vacated, it would also protect his estate from any civil suits from Odin Lloyd’s family because they would not be able to use evidence from the criminal trial in a lawsuit against the Hernandez estate for civil damages.

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8 years ago · by · 398 comments

Cleveland Shooter Kills Himself After Police Chase In Erie, PA

Steve Stephens, the Cleveland killer who uploaded a video of himself shooting an elderly man on Easter Sunday-has killed himself after a police chase in Pennsylvania. Stephens was on the run for two days after uploading a video of the senseless murder, as well as two other videos explaining why he committed the crime. In a video made prior to the shooting, Stephens explains that he just snapped and that his ex-girlfriend Joy Lane was to blame for what he was about to do. He mentions that he had lost everything he had to gambling debts and that he has tried to talk about his problems with friends and family but that they act like his problems aren’t that serious.
In the video of the killing, Stephens approaches Robert Godwin, a 74 year old grandfather of 14, as he is walking down the street. Stephens asks Godwin if he knows Joy Lane and then makes the man repeat the name saying “Joy Lane is the reason this is about to happen to you”. Godwin replies “Joy Lane, I don’t know any Joy Lane” as he raises his arms to protect himself-before being shot dead. Godwin, 74, was shot while walking home from an Easter meal with his children in Cleveland.
After uploading the video on Facebook, Stephens posted a Facebook live video of himself driving in his car while talking on the phone and dubbing his crime spree “The Joy Lane Easter Massacre” while claiming to have already killed a dozen other people. He claimed he would keep killing at random until Joy Lane or his mother called him.
Joy Lane, Stephens on again-off again girlfriend of a few years, told several news agencies that she tried to reach him shortly after the video surfaced but he did not pick up his phone. She said she was overwhelmed by the tragedy and apologized for what had happened-wishing for prayers for the victim’s family.
After the video surfaced, Cleveland residents were left reeling in fear that an active shooter was still in the area killing innocent people at random. For two days, authorities across the country scrambled to find Stephens, believing he may have headed east to family in New York. On Sunday, Stephens’ cell phone pinged a cell tower 100 miles east of Cleveland, in Erie, Pennslyvania.
The manhunt came to an end shortly after an employee spotted Stephens’ white Ford Fusion in the drive-thru of a McDonald’s near Erie and called authorities. The franchise owner said Stephens ordered chicken nuggets and fries at the McDonald’s drive-thru window in Harborcreek Township when employees recognized him. Stephens was two cars behind in the drive-thru lane to pick up food as police were on their way.
The McDonalds employee’s tried to give police more time to arrive by telling Stephens the fries were not ready but he took the nuggets and left. Authorities spotted him as he fled the area and gave chase. Police said that an officer performed a “PIT” maneuver, a strategic way of ramming a car to disable it. As the vehicle was spinning out of control from the PIT maneuver, Stephens pulled a pistol and shot himself in the head.
Authorities were uncertain how long Stephens was in the area and don’t believe he had any accomplices. No other victims have been confirmed.

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8 years ago · by · 0 comments

United Airlines Passenger Dragged From Plane

United Airlines is facing backlash after a videos went viral of a doctor who was assaulted before being forcibly dragged off the plane, after he refused to give up his paid seat.  The backlash against United sparked boycotts and dropped hundreds of millions of dollars from the company’s stock price.

Dr. David Dao was left bleeding and disoriented, after being forcefully pulled across the seat dividers and dragged down the aisle of the plane as shocked passengers looked on with several expressing disbelief on the incident as it was happening.

Dao, 69, of Elizabethtown, Ky., was one of four passengers picked to be bumped from an April 9 flight from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Louisville, Ky., to make room for airline employees who were added to the flight shortly before it departed.

According to another passenger on Flight 3411 from Chicago to Kentucky, the airline needed seats on the fully booked aircraft to reposition four crew members for another flight.  The crew announced that the plane could not take off until four passengers voluntarily deplaned.  When it didn’t have enough volunteers, even after offering $800 and a next day flight, the airline selected the man and several other passengers to deplane.

When he refused to leave, saying he had to see patients at a hospital in Kentucky early the following morning, multiple Chicago Department of Aviation security officers dragged Dao through the aisle, bloodying him. Dao then tried to run back on the flight and was forcibly removed a second time.

United CEO Oscar Muñoz initially defended the company’s actions  but later apologized, calling the incident “horrific.”  United Airlines said it will fully refund the tickets of all passengers on board the flight.  Chicago’s Aviation Department has said that four officers involved in the beating had been placed on leave.

Dao, who was hospitalized in Chicago, suffered a concussion, a broken nose and lost two teeth in the ordeal. In preparation for a civil suit, lawyers for Dr. Dao filed an emergency request requiring United and the city to preserve records of the incident and the personnel files of the Aviation Department officers who pulled Dao from the plane.

The airline has said it is reviewing its policies regarding oversold flights.  They already announced that they will require United employees traveling for work to book seats at least an hour in advance to avoid displacing customers already on board an aircraft.

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8 years ago · by · 744 comments

North Korea Warns U.S. It’s Ready For War

A major escalation of the tensions between the U.S. and North Korea has led to the US sending the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and several warships toward the Korean Peninsula.  The Carl Vinson and three guided-missile destroyers and cruisers to the peninsula were sent only days after North Korea launched its latest ballistic missile test. This missile reportedly flew only 37 miles.

North Korea has condemned the U.S. for bringing the aircraft carrier group and other nuclear-armed assets into the region, and threatened an assault on South Korea, Japan and U.S. bases.  A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that “We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions. North Korea is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.”

U.S. intelligence officials believe North Korea is preparing its sixth nuclear weapons test, possibly as early as Saturday, April 15 which coincides with the 105th anniversary of the birth of the country’s founder, Kim Il-sung.

North Korean senior officials have accused the Trump administration of wanting to “annihilate” their country and blamed the escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula squarely on the U.S. and South Korea.  Han Song Ryol, North Korea’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs stated in an interview that if North Korea felt they were going to be attacked they would use nuclear weapons.

Experts say the sixth nuclear test could come at any time and is part of the Kim Jong Un regime’s quest to build a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Most analysts believe North Korea is still at least several years away from that capacity, but Pyongyang already has weapons that pose a serious threat to U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, and U.S. troops based in those countries.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons development program has been a primary focus and a tense topic for years. Just last month North Korea successfully launched four ballistic missiles into the waters off northwest Japan.   State media in Pyongyang said it was just a dry run of a nuclear attack against US military bases in Japan and experts say this exercise was defensive, not offensive.

A North Korea official stated Pyongyang intends to “relentlessly strengthen” the country’s nuclear weapons.  Experts say North Korea’s goal in advancing their nuclear program and developing nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the US is a deterrent for a US invasion.

Experts have debated whether North Korea possesses a nuclear warhead it can mount to a short or medium-range missile. North Korea claims that it has miniaturized a nuclear warhead and is capable of mounting it to a short, medium, or long-range missile – has never been independently verified.  Kim said in his New Year’s address that the country had reached “the final stages” of that weapon’s development.

While analysts say it is unlikely that North Korea possesses an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching West Coast cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle, they are well on their way to developing such a weapon.

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8 years ago · by · 3 comments

FL Governor Removes Prosecutor From 21 Cases Over Death Penalty Dispute

In an escalating dispute over the death penalty cases in Florida, Governor Rick Scott has removed Orange-Osceola  State Attorney Aramis Ayala from 21 more cases from District 9 to a special prosecutor.  The governor’s spokeswoman said in a statement “State Attorney Ayala’s complete refusal to consider capital punishment for the entirety of her term sends an unacceptable message that she is not interested in considering every available option in the fight for justice,” Ayala’s office, in response, is saying Scott blindsided her and is calling the decision an abuse of power.

All of the cases removed from Ayala have been reassigned to State Attorney Brad King.  Ayala has filed a motion in state circuit court indicating her intent to challenge Scott’s decision and disputing the governor’s authority to remove her simply because he disagrees with her valid exercise of prosecutorial discretion.

Ayala, an elected prosecutor in central Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, took office in January, to begin a four-year term.  In March, Ayala announced she would no longer seek the death penalty in any murder cases, including in the case of Markeith Loyd, who’s accused of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend and then Orlando police officer Debra Clayton. Scott removed Ayala from that case shortly after.

Her decision sparked an outcry with many Republican leaders claiming Ayala violated her oath of office by taking the death penalty off the table. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi called Ayala’s move “a blatant neglect of duty and a shameful failure to follow the law,” while members of the state legislature threatened to reduce her office’s funding.

There were also some who backed Ayala’s decision including more than 100 judges, former prosecutors and legal experts who have expressed their support for Ayala, saying Scott has overstepped his legal authority by removing her from cases, and saying she has the legal discretion to not seek the death penalty.

Capital punishment remains legal in 31 states, but death penalty sentences have dropped dramatically over the past few decades. Of the nation’s 2,300 prosecutors, only 27 sentenced a person to death last year.  Capital punishment in Florida has been on hold since Jan. 12 when the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the state’s sentencing system as a violation of a defendant’s right to a jury trial.  Florida’s old law allowed a jury to recommend the death penalty by a simple majority vote.  Every other state with the death penalty except for Delaware requires juries to be unanimous in recommending a sentence of death.

In March, Governor Scott attempted to restart executions last month by signing a bill which took effect immediately-that requires jury recommendations to be unanimous before a death penalty can be imposed by a judge.  After signing the legislature, Scott said he hopes that executions could soon resume in Florida.  “My foremost concern is always for the victims and their loved ones,” Scott’s statement said. “I hope this legislation will allow families of these horrific crimes to get the closure they deserve.”

 

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