State Attorney Stripped Of Cases For Refusing To Pursue Death Penalty

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is taking nearly two-dozen first-degree murder cases away from an Orlando state attorney who publicly declared she will no longer seek the death penalty in any case. State Atty. Aramis Ayala earned praise from civil rights and faith groups, but drew the ire of Republican lawmakers in the state, including Gov. Scott. He had already moved Ayala off the case of Markeith Loyd, charged with killing an Orlando police lieutenant and his pregnant former girlfriend last year. Scott has now reassigned another 21 cases to another nearby state attorney. “If you look at these cases, they are horrendous cases,” Scott told the Associated Press. “And so I’m going to continue to think about the families, and that’s how I made my decision today.” Ayala has said she plans to appeal to Florida’s Supreme Court about the Loyd case. Ayala’s spokesman said she learned about the governor shifting cases through the news media. “Ms. Ayala remains steadfast in her position the governor is abusing his authority and has compromised the independence and integrity of the criminal justice system,” Eryka Washington said.