Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday that would permit the execution of convicted child rapists in his state. Experts were quick to point out that the new law flies in the face of Supreme Court precedent that makes it unconstitutional to seek capital punishment in cases that do not involve a murder.
The legislation would allow Florida prosecutors to seek the death penalty for an adult who is convicted of sexual battery of a child under 12. The new law, which is set to take effect on Oct. 1, requires only an 8-4 vote to execute by a Florida jury.
On its face, the law breaks with several Supreme Court precedents, Northeastern legal experts say. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court in Louisiana v. Kennedy ruled that the death penalty cannot be applied in the prosecution of non-homicidal child sex offenses, stating that it would violate the Eighth…
