The state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties has sued Gov. Rick Scott, alleging that he acted unconstitutionally when he removed her from 23 homicide cases. Scott had reassigned Aramis Ayala's cases to another state attorney by executive order because Ayala had declared her refusal to pursue the death penalty.
"The Governor did not take this drastic step because of any misconduct on Ayala's part, but simply because he disagreed with her reasoned prosecutorial determination not to seek the death penalty under current circumstances," Ayala's attorney, Roy Austin, writes in her filing.
The complaint also lists the prosecutor chosen to replace her, State Attorney Brad King, as a defendant.
"The people of Orange and Osceola Counties overwhelmingly elected State Attorney Aramis Ayala to serve as their prosecutor — not Governor Scott or State Attorney King," Austin explained in a statement.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
4 comments:
No matter how you feel about the death penalty, this smacks of yet another executive overstepping the lines between branches.
1:53
Are you kidding me? This prosecutor should in all reality be fired!
Sounds like she consciously withheld her intent when running for office. They should subject her to a recall election if Florida law permits. Then we'd see if the public shares her 'conviction'. My guess is she'd be back to chasing ambulances.
When the State you want to work for has a death penalty in place and you are against such a penalty and want a job as a prosecutor, find a state to apply to that meets your ethics.
Kind of like Islamic Muslims coming to the US to practice Sharia. Wrong place, go back to a country that practices this.
This is where I say, "DUH".
Post a Comment