DeSantis signs bill nixing jury trial for suspected terrorists

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday aimed at reducing the ability of accused terrorists to use state resources in their defense.

SB 1442, which passed unanimously in both chambers, broadens the scope of the fugitive disentitlement doctrine, which restricts parties who violate court orders from seeking court relief, to encompass collection efforts related to civil actions involving acts of terrorism.

Additionally, the new law specifies that individuals involved in terrorism-related civil actions cannot utilize any state resources for their defense proceedings.

In the senate, the bill was sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, who said the bill “only affects those who commit acts of terrorism.”

“This bill will help bring justice to those who were tortured for what we did for our nation,” Collins said.

The house also passed an identical version of Collins’s bill, HB 1501, which was sponsored by Rep. Michael Grant, R-Port Charlotte.

The legislation eliminates the right to a jury trial in civil post judgement proceedings regarding the recovery of terrorism damages and aims to provide victims with a more expeditious way of collecting damages.