Death Penalty Bill Expected to Become Law
State lawmakers approved a bill to bring Colorado law in line with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling by letting juries, rather than judges, decide whether a convicted killer should live or die.
Gov. Bill Owens is expected to sign the measure by the end of week.
“If we’re going to have a death penalty ... we need to make sure the death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst, and that’s a decision for the jury,” said Democratic Sen. Ken Gordon.
Owens called a special legislative session after the Supreme Court ruled last month that only juries can hand down a death sentence.
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