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Abandonning unanimity in Georgia?!?!?

By Karl R. Keys, Esq.

via the NY Times: Representative David Ralston, a Blue Ridge Republican who is chairman of the House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee, said, ?The Nichols case, because it?s so recent and so high profile and the guilt of the defendant is so clear, has provided a great deal of momentum to the supporters of a change.? Legislators have not decided who will introduce the proposal to end unanimity or how many jurors? votes it will require for a death sentence, Mr. Ralston said. But if the proposal passes, Georgia will become the only state to allow non-unanimous juries to sentence defendants to death. The federal government also requires a jury to be unanimous to impose death. (In Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Montana and Nebraska, judges can impose death sentences after a jury issues its recommendation...continue to full post

Full post as published by Capital Defense Weekly on December 17, 2008 (boomark / email).