Eric’s Law

Bill 119 s 718, also known as the "Jury Unanimity Act," aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code to address the issue of jury deadlock in cases where the death penalty is a potential punishment. Currently, if a jury fails to reach a unanimous decision on the recommended sentence for a crime punishable by death, the judge is responsible for determining the sentence.

This bill proposes that if a jury is unable to reach a unanimous decision on the recommended sentence for a death penalty case, a new jury must be impaneled to reconsider the sentencing phase of the trial. This would ensure that the decision to impose the death penalty is made by a fully unanimous jury, rather than leaving it up to the discretion of the judge.

The purpose of this bill is to uphold the principle of unanimous jury decision-making in cases where the ultimate punishment of death is at stake. By requiring a new jury to be impaneled in cases of deadlock, the bill aims to ensure that the decision to impose the death penalty is made with the highest level of consensus and deliberation. Overall, the Jury Unanimity Act seeks to strengthen the integrity and fairness of the criminal justice system, particularly in cases where the most severe punishment is being considered.