Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Tag archive

burden of proof

Florida law shifts burden of proof in ‘Stand Your Ground’

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Florida became the first state with a law that spells out that prosecutors, and not defendants, have the burden of proof in pretrial “stand your ground” hearings when Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Friday. The measure was among 16 bills that Scott signed, including a bill that gives students and school employees a broader right to express their religious viewpoint in schools. The “stand your ground” bill was fought by prosecutors who say it will make their job…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Legislative fix to ‘Stand Your Ground’ law goes to Rick Scott

in Statewide/Top Headlines by
self defense

The Senate blinked in a fight over a standard of evidence, sending a fix to the state’s “stand your ground” law to Gov. Rick Scott. The House on Friday voted to “insist” that the Senate accept its amendment to Sen. Rob Bradley‘s bill (SB 128), which aims to streamline claims of self-defense. Last month, it OK’d the bill but changed the burden of proof to “clear and convincing evidence,” a lower threshold than the Senate’s “beyond a reasonable doubt,” to overcome self-defense. By Friday…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Senate Rules Committee stands its ground on Stand Your Ground

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A Florida Senate committee overwhelmingly approved the latest attempt to expand the state’s Stand Your Ground self-defense law. On Thursday, the Senate Rules Committee passed the measure after advocates said it would stop unnecessary prosecutions. Opponents alleged it would stop a lot of necessary prosecutions, as well. Senate Bill 128 would allow gun defendants to demand pretrial hearings on their claims of self-defense, putting the burden of proof on prosecutors to prove the defendants used the guns not in self-defense.…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Go to Top