The jury in the trial of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz reached a decision on Tuesday, October 11. The case for the victim’s family is being led by Assistant State Attorney Michael Satz, who has cast Cruz as a sociopath who planned and carried out the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018, killing 17 people. 

Cruz, 24, was put to trial on July 18, 2022, in what was touted as the deadliest shooting in the US to ever go on trial. The jury was deliberating on whether Cruz should be given the death penalty, or a life sentence on account of any potential mitigating factors.

Also read: Parkland school shooter, Nikolas Cruz sentencing: Jury recommendation

Who is Michael Satz?

Michael Satz was born and raised in Pennsylvania and studied at the University of Miami’s School of Law. He is an attorney and politician who has served as State Attorney for Florida’s 17th judicial circuit from 1976 to January 2021. 

After graduating from law school, Satz started his career in the judiciary as an assistant prosecutor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1976 he got elected the State Attorney for Florida’s 17th Judicial district in Broward County and continued to be elected every four years till January 2021.  

Since his stint as the State Attorney began in 1976, Satz has lead the charge against a variety of crimes in Florida, such as domestic violence, child abuse, public corruption and also organised crime. 

Also read: Who is Judge Elizabeth Scherer?

At a very early stage in his career, Satz recognised the need for the victims of crime to have proper legal counsel. Acting in that direction, he established a Victim Advocate Unit that provided assistance and advice to the victims of crime. 

For his effort toward fighting crime in Broward, Satz was awarded the President’s Award in 2004 by the Broward Victim’s Rights Coalition.

Satz has also regularly initiated grand jury investigations on several social and community that affected Broward residents.