On Thursday, the Florida Supreme Court removed a judge who had presided over sentencing in the Parkland mass-shooting case from a murder case involving the death penalty. The court found that she showed unfair sympathy for prosecutors in the Parkland school shooting case.
The court has removed Elizabeth Scherer from the position of judge in charge of Randy Tundidor’s appeal. He is currently appealing the death sentence he received for the killing his Broward County landlord.
The justices at sentencing noted Scherer’s friendly interactions between him and prosecutors who sought to impose the capital punishment on Parkland Shooter Nikolas C.
The justices unanimously agreed that Scherer left the bench immediately after sentencing Cruz and, while wearing her judicial gown, exchanged kisses and hugs with victims’ families and prosecution team members.
Judges must remain impartial in all trials and sentencing.
Cruz was tried by the same team that prosecuted Tundidor.
Scherer had to sentence Cruz to life imprisonment without parole after the jury did not reach the unanimous recommendation for the death penalty, as required by law.
The state legislature later passed a law that permits the death penalty when at least eight jurors vote for it. The bill was introduced as a response to the Parkland tragedy. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis supports the bill.
The Supreme Court stated Scherer had heated discussions with Cruz’s attorneys. Scherer accused one of threatening her children, and instructed two other members to “go sit down.”
Source: https://apnews.com/article/florida-judge-parkland-murder-trial-9044c680febc97557046a83be7ef15dd