Alabama Senate Votes to End Judicial Override
Alabama is the only state left allowing judicial override. That’s where elected judges can overrule a jury verdict of life to impose a death sentence. But that might come to an end. This week, the Alabama Senate passed a bill that would prohibit the practice. WBHM’s Gigi Douban talked with Don Dailey of Alabama Public Television about this and other happenings in the legislature this week.
The Highlights
The Senate approved the judicial override bill 30-1. The legislation won support from judges, Dailey says, because the outcry on the issue has reached reached a boiling point. He adds there’ve been a number of high-profile cases where judicial override was a factor.
Almost 20 percent of those on Alabama’s death row were sentenced to death through judicial override, according to the Equal Justice Initiative. That organization says judicial override is the primary reason Alabama has the highest per capita death sentencing rate in the country.
A similar bill in the House would require that jury decisions imposing a death sentence be unanimous.
Patrons at New Hampshire shooting prevented worse tragedy with selfless acts, AG says
Patrons at a restaurant acted selflessly to stop a gunman who opened fire while a wedding was taking place at a New Hampshire country club, averting a worse tragedy, authorities said Sunday.
Leaders promised to cut climate pollution, then doubled down on fossil fuels
Ten years after countries promised to cut climate pollution in the Paris Agreement, countries plan to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels that would be consistent with that deal.
German and Swedish jets intercept Russian military plane over Baltic Sea
This was the latest event after a series of incursions by Russian military aircraft into NATO airspace in September, leading to heightened tensions between NATO and Russia.
A’ja Wilson snags a record fourth WNBA MVP
Wilson, a 6-foot-4 center for the Las Vegas Aces, has dominated this year. In her eighth season, she finished in the top five in points, rebounds, blocks and steals.
No software update needed for this band: Motion City Soundtrack grows into middle age
Ten years after their last new music release, Motion City Soundtrack is still as anxious as ever, but for different reasons.
Earlybirds Club: for ladies who want to get down and also get to bed on time
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe heads to the club — the Earlybirds Club — and dances until the break of 8 p.m.
