"Racial Justice Act: Death penalty measure advances in N.C. House," is the AP report by Chris Kardish. It's via the Fayetteville Observer.
A North Carolina House panel endorsed a bill Wednesday that repeals a procedure for condemned inmates to challenge death sentences on racial grounds, sending the measure to the full House for final passage.The bill is intended to restart executions in the state by ending the Racial Justice Act, which was passed four years ago when Democrats controlled state government. The act allows a judge to reduce a death sentence to life in prison if race is found to be a significant factor in the case.
It was weakened last legislative session by new Republican majorities. The state hasn't carried out an execution since 2006 because of various legal appeals.
The bill also protects medical professionals from disciplinary action from licensing boards for assisting in an execution, but the provision repealing the Racial Justice Act has generated the most attention, drawing debate from district attorneys on both sides of the issue, the families of murder victims and religious leaders.
The bill already passed the Senate. Republicans control both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor's mansion.
The bill originally allowed inmates to cite statistics in their appeals, but Republicans repealed that provision last session. A Cumberland County judge reduced the sentences of four convicted murderers on racial grounds last year, ruling on three of the cases after the rollback of the act.
Earlier coverage from North Carolina begins at the link.
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