The San Diego Union-Tribune reports, "Senator Wants Swifter Death Penalty Reviews," by Michael Gardner.
State Sen. Joel Anderson, R-La Mesa, is carrying separate measures to speed up death penalty reviews, including what will likely be a controversial proposal to bring back the gas chamber.“Removing unnecessary impediments to carrying out the punishment meted out by judges and juries will ensure timely justice,” Anderson said in a statement.
The gas chamber provisions tucked into Senate Bill 779 drew a sharp rebuke from the San Diego chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
And:
In addition to Senate Bill 779, Anderson’s Senate Constitutional Amendment 13 would allow appellate courts to hear death penalty appeals. Currently, those cases go straight to the state Supreme Court.
The amendment would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to get on the ballot. Democrats, who command strong majorities in both houses of the Legislature, have shown little support for overhauling the death penalty process.
Earlier coverage from California begins at the link. Related posts are in the state legislation category index.
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