Florida Criminal Justice Policy

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used a Tuesday bill‑signing event to call on the Republican‑controlled Florida House to impeach Leon County Judge Tiffany Baker‑Carper, who allowed convicted sex offender Daniel Spencer to remain free on bond before sentencing; Spencer is now charged, along with Chloe Spencer, in the 2025 killing of his 5‑year‑old stepdaughter, Missy Mogle. DeSantis signed “Missy’s Law,” which requires judges to keep defendants convicted of specified dangerous crimes in custody pending sentencing, arguing that had the law been in place, Missy would still be alive and calling Baker‑Carper’s decision a "miscarriage of justice" and "dereliction of judicial duty." He emphasized that the Legislature has more than the two‑thirds majority needed to impeach and claimed some Democrats might join such a vote, framing impeachment as a necessary check on judges he says "benefit the criminal element." The governor also signed House Bill 1159 to increase penalties and expand offenses related to child sexual abuse material, positioning both measures as part of a broader law‑and‑order push to ensure "swift and meaningful consequences" for offenders. The case is already feeding national debates over judicial discretion, post‑conviction release, and political efforts to remove judges after high‑profile crimes by repeat offenders.