Scott Matches Bush For Most Florida Executions In Modern Era

January 17, 2015

Just starting his second term, Gov. Rick Scott has matched former Gov. Jeb Bush for the most executions in the modern era.

Death Row inmate Johnny Shane Kormondy was put to death by lethal injection Thursday night at Florida State Prison near Starke for the 1993 murder of an Escambia County man during a home-invasion robbery. Kormondy is the 90th person executed in Florida during the modern era of capital punishment. There are 395 people on Death Row in the state.

The number is the most for any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The most executions under the watch of any governor since 1924 is 35, coming while Spessard Holland, later a U.S. senator, was in office from January 7, 1941 through January 2, 1945.

The execution was the 21st since Scott took office in 2011, equaling the number overseen by Bush during an eight-year span. Scott was re-elected to a second term November 4.

“Capital punishment is a solemn duty of the governor,” Scott told reporters Tuesday. “I review all the cases. They’ve gone through all their appeals and the clemency process. But I review their cases, and it’s a solemn duty.”

by The News Service of Florida

Comments

4 Responses to “Scott Matches Bush For Most Florida Executions In Modern Era”

  1. DavidHuieGreen on January 19th, 2015 7:46 pm

    CONCERNING:
    “He would have passed Jeb for the lead if he wouldn’t have had to reschedule that execution that conflicted with one of Pam Bondi’s fundraisers.”

    Nah, they quickly caught up.

    David for justice

  2. Rufus Lowgun on January 19th, 2015 12:06 pm

    He would have passed Jeb for the lead if he wouldn’t have had to reschedule that execution that conflicted with one of Pam Bondi’s fundraisers.

  3. J on January 17th, 2015 6:37 pm

    Open up the Express Lane

  4. john on January 17th, 2015 7:27 am

    Its gotta be a tough job, but someone has to do it. Death row prison stays need to be shortened. One appeal in the first two years then, if unsuccessful execution must be carried out within five years.