Supreme Court of the United States - Press Release
Supreme Court of the United States: Hurst v. Florida ruling
Cite as: 577 U. S. (2016) 1
Opinion of the Court
NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of the United States Reports. Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D. C. 20543, of any typographical or other formal errors, in order that corrections may be made before the preliminary print goes to press.
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
No. 14–7505
TIMOTHY LEE HURST, PETITIONER v. FLORIDA
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA
[January 12, 2016]
JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR delivered the opinion of the Court. A Florida jury convicted Timothy Lee Hurst of murder-
ing his co-worker, Cynthia Harrison. A penalty-phase jury
recommended that Hurst’s judge impose a death sentence. Notwithstanding this recommendation, Florida law required the judge to hold a separate hearing and determine whether sufficient aggravating circumstances existed to justify imposing the death penalty. The judge so found and sentenced Hurst to death.
We hold this sentencing scheme unconstitutional. The Sixth Amendment requires a jury, not a judge, to find each fact necessary to impose a sentence of death. A jury’s mere recommendation is not enough.
I
On May 2, 1998, Cynthia Harrison’s body was discovered in the freezer of the restaurant where she worked — bound, gagged, and stabbed over 60 times. The restaurant safe was unlocked and open, missing hundreds of dollars. The State of Florida charged Harrison’s co-worker, Timothy Lee Hurst, with her murder. See 819 So. 2d 689, 692– 694 (Fla. 2002).
During Hurst’s 4-day trial, the State offered substantial
