Title: In Re Jury Inst. in Criminal Cases
Citation: 678 So. 2d 1224
Docket Number: 87922
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: August 29, 1996

678 So. 2d 1224 (1996)
In re STANDARD JURY INSTRUTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES.
No. 87922.

Supreme Court of Florida.
May 16, 1996.
Rehearing Granted August 29, 1996.
PER CURIAM.
It has come to our attention that the Florida Legislature has changed the penalties for capital felonies but that the standard jury instructions for penalty proceedings in capital cases were not amended to reflect these changes.
Section 775.082(1), Florida Statutes (1993), provided:
In 1994, section 775.082(1) was amended to read:
Accordingly, this Court, on its own motion, amends the standard instructions on "Penalty ProceedingsCapital Cases F.S. 921.141" to reflect the amendments to section 775.082. The amended instructions are set forth in the appendix to this opinion. Underscoring indicates new language; strike-through type indicates deletions. The amendments to the instruction shall be effective when this opinion becomes final.
It is so ordered.
GRIMES, C.J., and OVERTON, SHAW, KOGAN, HARDING, WELLS and ANSTEAD, JJ., concur.
Note to Judge Give la at the beginning of penalty proceedings before a jury that did not try the issue of guilt. In addition, give the jury other appropriate general instructions.
Note to Judge Give 1b at beginning of penalty proceedings before the jury that found the defendant guilty.
Note to Judge For murders committed prior to May 25, 1994, the penalties were somewhat different; therefore, for crimes committed before that date, this instruction should be modified to comply with the statute in effect at the time the crime was committed.
Note to Judge When the victim is a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, state attorney, assistant state attorney, justice, or judge, "eligibility for release" should be inserted in place of "possibility of parole for 25 years." See F.S. 775.0823.
Note to Judge Give in all cases before taking evidence in penalty proceedings.
Note to Judge Give after the taking of evidence and argument.
F.S. 921.141(5) The aggravating circumstances that you may consider are limited to any of the following that are established by the evidence:
Note to Judge Give only those aggravating circumstances for which evidence has been presented.
Note to Judge Since the character of a crime if involving violence or threat of violence is a matter of law, when the State offers evidence under aggravating circumstance "2" the court should instruct the jury of the following, as applicable:
Give a or b as applicable
Note to Judge When the victim is a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, state attorney, assistant state attorney, justice, or judge, "eligibility for release" should be inserted in place of "possibility of parole for 25 years." See F.S. 775.0823.
F.S. 921.141(6) Should you find sufficient aggravating circumstances do exist, it will then be your duty to determine whether mitigating circumstances exist that outweigh the aggravating circumstances. Among the mitigating circumstances you may consider, if established by the evidence, are:
Note to Judge Give only those mitigating circumstances for which evidence has been presented.
Note to Judge If the defendant offers evidence on this circumstance and the State, in rebuttal, offers evidence of other crimes, also give the following:
If one or more aggravating circumstances are established, you should consider all the evidence tending to establish one or more mitigating circumstances and give that evidence such weight as you feel it should receive in reaching your conclusion as to the sentence that should be imposed.
A mitigating circumstance need not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt by the defendant. If you are reasonably convinced that a mitigating circumstance exists, you may consider it as established.
The sentence that you recommend to the court must be based upon the facts as you find them from the evidence and the law. You should weigh the aggravating circumstances against the mitigating circumstances, and your advisory sentence must be based on these considerations.
In these proceedings it is not necessary that the advisory sentence of the jury be unanimous.
The fact that the determination of whether you recommend a sentence of death or sentence of life imprisonment in this case can be reached by a single ballot should not influence you to act hastily or without due regard to the gravity of these proceedings. Before you ballot you should carefully weigh, sift and consider the evidence, and all of it, realizing that human life is at stake, and bring to bear your best judgment in reaching your advisory sentence.
Note to Judge When the victim is a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, state attorney, assistant state attorney, justice, or judge, "eligibility for release" should be inserted in place of "possibility of parole for 25 years." See F.S. 775.0823.
Note to Judge The following question is to be asked each juror:
[1]  Section 775.082(1), as amended in 1994, became effective on May 25, 1994. Ch. 94-228, Laws of Fla. Therefore, it applies to offenses committed on or after that date.