Florida Governor Signs Law Allowing Death Penalty for Child Rape Despite Supreme Court Ruling

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law making child rape subject to the death penalty, despite a US Supreme Court ruling against it.
DeSantis signed the law as part of a package of "anti-crime" bills, one of which goes against a 2008 US Supreme Court decision prohibiting states from applying the death penalty for child rape if the victim did not die.
The law could set up a future US Supreme Court case as the conservative-leaning court may be willing to reconsider limits on executions across the country.
DeSantis said the law is necessary to protect children and ensure appropriate punishment for heinous crimes, though critics argue it could negatively impact victims of sex crimes.
The law comes as DeSantis is expected to announce a 2024 presidential run and continues efforts to establish conservative credentials on issues like abortion, gun rights, and tort reform.