Jacksonville woman plans to travel to Tallahassee to fight new court ruling on death penalty

Florida prosecutors can now seek the death penalty despite questions about the constitutionality of the law.

Monday’s ruling from the Florida Supreme Court ruled the death penalty can be applied as long the jury is unanimous.

A Jacksonville mom said she is heading to Tallahassee to speak to legislators this week.

Darlene Farah’s daughter Shelby was robbed and killed in 2013.

She's been fighting against the death penalty for her daughter's accused killer.

“Shelby was robbed and killed three years and seven months ago today, and probably about a couple weeks after -- maybe a week and a half after -- a grand jury indicted for the death penalty," Farah said. "I have been fighting since then."

Under the previous law, a judge had the power to impose the death penalty.

The state previously legislated there had to be at least a 10-2 jury recommendation.

Under the new legislation, someone can be put to death only if all jurors agree.

Farah feels it’s important for people to hear about her daughter's case because many don’t understand the long, grueling process families must go though.

“A lot of them don’t even realize it takes 20 to 30 years before anybody even gets executed," Farah said. "And a lot of people don’t know they are automatically granted appeals."

She said every time she walks into the court room and looks at her daughter's accused killer, it takes the life out of her.

Farah will be in Tallahassee possibly until Thursday. She plans to speak at a press conference with several church leaders and then speaking at two different hearings.

Cox Media Group