Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 Source: Quad-City Times (IA) Section: U.S./World Briefly, Page A3 Copyright: 2002 Quad-City Times Contact: http://www.qctimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/857 COURT: '3 STRIKES' LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL A state appeals court ruled Wednesday that Florida's "three strikes" law is unconstitutional, nullifying a statute Gov. Jeb Bush pledged to pass during his campaign four years ago. The 1999 law contains provisions unrelated to "three strikes," violating the constitutional requirement that laws deal with only a single subject, the court ruled. The law requires that judges give maximum sentences to people who commit a third violent crime. It also mandates maximum terms for drug dealers and people who attack police or the elderly. Bush said he would try to get the law re-enacted in the legislative session that began Tuesday. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth