Senate votes to repeal Racial Justice Act

[WorseBeforeBetter]

The state Senate voted 33-14 Wednesday to repeal the state's historic Racial Justice Act and restart executions in North Carolina.
....

But Goolsby called the Racial Justice Act "bad law," saying that racial bias by prosecutors is already illegal and those convicted of capital crimes already have "multiple avenues of appeal" available to them.

"I keep thinking about the families of the murder victims that I’ve met," Goolsby said.

The measure now goes to the House.

http://www.wral.com/senate-votes-to-repeal-racial-justice-act/12300868/

[shenmue]

1. :(

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. It's astonishing how quickly power-drunk Republicans are destroying this state.

is right.

[tired_guy]

3. Great video ACLU made on jury discrimination

More Ostrich Syndrome in NC...

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. Thanks for sharing that.

And welcome to the site.

[davidt2974]

5. And it's official

McCrory signed the repeal into law on Wednesday. :\

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/racial-justice-act-repealed_n_3469039.html

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina has repealed a landmark law that had allowed convicted murderers to have their sentences reduced to life in prison if they could prove racial bias influenced the outcome of their cases.

Gov Pat McCrory affixed his signature Wednesday.

Both proponents and critics say the repeal of the 2009 Racial Justice Act will restart the death penalty in a state that hasn't executed an inmate since 2006.

Republicans and McCrory said the law was so poorly crafted that it has allowed nearly all of the state's 156 death-row inmates to launch appeals under the law regardless of their race. They say the law impedes the will of unanimous jury decisions.

But Democrats argue there's plenty of evidence and studies that show those juries were racially biased.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

6. I missed that... thanks for posting.

It's a challenge trying to keep up with the daily onslaught.