SB200 Alabama 2020 Session

Under current law, the appellate procedure for death penalty cases provides for a direct appeal to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.

Under current law, the Alabama Supreme Court may hear death penalty cases but is not required to hear the cases.

This bill would provide that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has exclusive appellate jurisdiction of cases where a criminal defendant is convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.

This bill would provide that a death penalty appeals case would have priority over all other cases and the appeal would be expedited to the extent practicable.

This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Relating to appellate procedure in death penalty cases; to amend Sections 12-3-9, 13A-5-53, 13A-5-55, 13A-5-56, 15-18-80 and 15-18-82.1, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide the appellate procedure for death penalty cases; to provide that certain death penalty appeal cases have priority over all other cases; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.