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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 14
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Stiffer penalties for bomb hoax move ahead
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Anyone caught staging a bomb hoax would face stiffer minimum penalties under a bill that cleared a legislative hurdle in the General Assembly Wednesday.
Rep. David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) wants to require a minimum one-year prison sentence — with a maximum of five years — for those convicted under House Bill 653.
When courts order defendants to pay restitution under the legislation, judges would be able to consider costs incurred by local and state police, emergency officials, and nonprofit organizations.
The House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee passed the bill Wednesday, sending it to the House Rules Committee for consideration.
Permalink | | Categories: politics
Amended bill would let 11 jurors decide death penalty
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A bill that would allow only 11 jurors — instead of all 12 — to recommend a death sentence has moved a step closer toward a vote in the House of Representatives.
Existing law requires a unanimous jury decision to impose a death sentence. House Bill 185, however, would allow judges to impose the death penalty if 11 of 12 jurors make such a recommendation.
Supporters say the bill would prevent a lone juror from sabotaging a death penalty sentence in murder cases. Opponents argue the bill would put death penalty decisions in the hands of elected judges who could be swayed by politics.
As introduced by House Majority Whip Barry Fleming (R-Harlem), the original version of the bill would have allowed nine jurors to recommend the death penalty.
The House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee amended the bill Tuesday, however, raising that number to 11. The panel then approved the bill and sent it on its way to the House Rules Committee, which sets the agenda for House floor votes.
