Federal death penalty cases would get a new jury if the first one can't agree on a sentence.
This bill, called 'Eric's Law,' would change how federal death penalty cases work if a jury can't agree on a sentence. If the first jury doesn't unanimously recommend a sentence, prosecutors could ask for a brand new jury to decide. If that second jury also can't agree, the defendant would receive a sentence other than death.
Today, if a jury in a federal death penalty case cannot agree on a unanimous sentence, there is no rule. A new jury is not required to be impaneled. After this bill, if the first jury cannot agree, federal prosecutors could ask for a new jury hearing. If that second jury also fails to reach a unanimous decision, the court would then impose a sentence other than death.
HR 1556 · 119th Congress · February 25, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10
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3 filings mentioned this bill
Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.