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Execution Ties Record, Lack of Jury Unanimity Questioned

January 15th, 2015 by Mike Vasilinda

Johnny Shane Kormondy is set to be executed tonight at 6pm (Eastern). His execution will be Rick Scott’s 21st, tying a record for the number of executions under one Governor in modern times. Scott accomplished the feat in just over four years while it took Jeb Bush twice that long.

Gary McAdams was shot point blank in the back of the head in July 1993 during a home invasion while his wife was was being raped. We are identifying Cecilia McAdams only because she speaks publicly about the ordeal. Earlier this year she met with Governor Rick Scott. In a Face book post afterwards, she wrote “Hopefully one day in the not too distant future we can all get together to celebrate justice being served.”

Scott would not comment specifically on the meeting or Johnny Kormondy’s death warrant. “I review all the cases, they’ve all gone through their appeals and the clemency process” said Scott when asked.

While no one questions Johnny Kormondy’s guilt, some question whether justice is being served. Kormondy was sentenced to death on an 8-4 jury recommendation while two co defendants got life.

In 2005, Florida’s Supreme Court recommended lawmakers require unanimous jury recommendations in death cases, but Florida is the only state which allows a simple majority.

Mark Schlakman of the FSU Center for Human Rights says the change would add a different dynamic in the jury’s deliberations.  “What a unanimous jury requirement would do is to basically facilitate more robust deliberations.”

Prosecutors fear there would be fewer death sentences if a unanimous verdicts were required. But Ingrid Delgado of the Florida Catholic Conference says that fear is misplaced. “The truth is that Texas executes more and sentences more than the state of Florida and they require unanimity.”

Kormondy‘s execution ties a record of 21 for a single governor in modern times.

Some legislators fear making the change to a unanimous verdict would open avenues for legal challenges for those already sentenced to death.

 

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