Eric's Law: New rules for jury selection in death penalty cases.
This bill changes the procedure for sentencing in death penalty cases. If a jury fails to reach a unanimous recommendation on the sentence (death, life imprisonment, or lesser sentence), the court must impanel a new jury and hold a new special hearing. This ensures that the decision on capital punishment or life imprisonment is based on unanimous agreement, impacting the fairness and finality of sentences in the most serious criminal cases.
Key points
Unanimity requirement: If a jury fails to reach a unanimous recommendation on the sentence in a death-eligible case, the court must impanel a new jury.
New hearing: The newly impaneled jury will conduct a new special hearing to determine the sentence.
Limitation on repetition: If the second jury also fails to reach a unanimous recommendation, the court must impose a sentence other than death (e.g., life imprisonment or a lesser sentence).
Expired
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