SB200 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Appellate procedure in death penalty cases, provide that death penalty appeals cases have priority over all cases, Secs. 12-3-9, 13A-5-53, 13A-5-55, 13A-5-56, 15-18-80, 15-18-82.1 am'd.

Summary

SB200 makes the Court of Criminal Appeals the exclusive court for death penalty appeals, gives those appeals priority, and updates related procedures and language.

What This Bill Does

It transfers exclusive appellate jurisdiction for capital murder and death sentences to the Court of Criminal Appeals. It requires death penalty appeals to be prioritized and expedited as much as possible. It outlines how the Court of Criminal Appeals should review death sentences, including three specific questions and possible remand for new sentencing if errors are found, and it includes nonsubstantive technical updates to language and related forms/procedures.

Who It Affects

• Defendants convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death, whose death penalty appeals would be heard by the Court of Criminal Appeals and expedited.
• The Court of Criminal Appeals and the Alabama Supreme Court, which would implement the exclusive, prioritized appellate process and update related forms and procedures.

Key Provisions

• Amends §12-3-9 to grant exclusive appellate jurisdiction over capital murder cases with a death sentence to the Court of Criminal Appeals.
• Amends §13A-5-53 to require the Court of Criminal Appeals to review the death sentence, address errors in the sentence process, and consider three questions (arbitrary or prejudicial influence, independent weighing of aggravating/mitigating factors, and proportionality). Remands for new sentencing if needed.
• Amends §13A-5-55 to give death penalty convictions and sentences priority over all other cases and to require expeditious handling by the Court of Criminal Appeals.
• Includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions updating language and related forms/instructions, including pattern indictment/verdict forms and jury instructions, and updates to execution-related procedures.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Death Penalty