Butler v. Florida
In brief
The Supreme Court declined to review Butler’s case, so it did not decide whether the Constitution requires a jury to weigh the aggravating and mitigating factors.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · May 18, 2020
- What it’s about
- The Court denied Butler’s petition for review, leaving in place the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling that the Sixth Amendment does not require a jury, rather than a judge, to decide that aggravating factors outweigh mitigating factors before a death sentence may be imposed.
- Who it affects
- The order ended Butler’s Supreme Court review request but did not decide the constitutional question or endorse either side’s position.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
Florida therefore prevailed, and the Court did not decide the constitutional issue on the merits.
The case came from Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal and involved Florida’s death-sentence procedure.
Question presented
Whether the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Poole, 2020 WL 370302 (Fla. Jan. 23, 2020), which held that the Sixth Amendment does not require a jury to find that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors, violates the Sixth and Eighth Amendments to the United States Constitution?
What the Court decided
Holding
Petition DENIED.
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this docket action. No merits decision came from Butler’s petition.
Documents
Opinions
Key filings
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
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Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.