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Racial Justice Act advances in NC House
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Published: June 30, 2009
Raleigh - A North Carolina legislative committee has narrowly advanced a bill supporters say could counteract racial bias that might put a murder defendant on North Carolina's death row.
Democrats on a House judiciary committee voted 7-6 today to recommend a bill called the Racial Justice Act. It would allow a judge to rule out capital punishment before or after a murder trial on the basis of race.
The defendant could use data or other evidence to try to prove race was a significant factor in a prosecutor's decision to seek the death penalty or for jurors to impose it.
The Senate earlier approved a version that would remove legal obstacles that have blocked executions since 2006. The House stripped out those changes.
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