A Florida court on Thursday decided that school shooter Nikolas Cruz will get a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 2018 massacre that killed 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

With the decision, a three-month trial will come to an end. The jury and judge saw graphic videos and photos and heard testimonies from the victims’ family members and had a tour of the still blood-spattered building.

Also read: Sarah Matthews, former Trump White House staff, calls out Republicans before 9th Jan 6 hearing

Who is Judge Elizabeth Scherer?

Elizabeth Scherer is a judge at the Florida Circuit Court. She is 46 years old and lives in Fort Lauderdale. 

Scherer was appointed by Governor Rick Scott on December 14, 2012. She replaced retired Judge David Krathen. The 46-year-old then was re-elected without opposition in 2014. She served as an assistant state attorney in the 17th Judicial Circuit from 2001 to 2012. 

Scherer received her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and her J.D. from the University of Miami. 

Also read: US CPI Inflation eased to 8.2% in September, core index hits new four-decade high

Judge Elizabeth Scherer presided over the proceedings for the accused perpetrator,  Nikolas Cruz, of the 2018 school shooting in Parkland. 

In December 2019, Scherer granted a request from the defense to delay the start date for Cruz’s trial until the summer of 2020.

 “The case is going to be tried this summer,” the Miami Herald quoted her. 

Also read: In far-right Italy, Holocaust survivor opens Senate

The trial was later postponed indefinitely due to court closures resulting from COVID-19. In April 2021, Scherer told lawyers she expected the trial to start in September 2021.

The jury’s decision must be unanimous if it intends to recommend the death penalty, and if that happens, it will be up to Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer to make a final decision. If all jurors can’t agree on recommending death, then Cruz would get life in prison.