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JUNE 28, 2001

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday held a hearing on death penalty issues including proposed legislation by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to reform the system.

Among other provisions, Leahy's bill would create a national death penalty commission. The group would create mininum standards for ensuring defendant have proper legal counsel in death penalty cases.

The bill would provide $50 million in funds to put new standards in place. States who don't meet them would face losing prison grant money.

Get the Bill:
The Innocence Protection Act of 2001 (S.486)

Get Senate Testimony:
Protecting the Innocent: Ensuring Competent Counsel in Death Penalty Cases (6/27)

Get the Story:
National death penalty commission proposed (AP 6/27)

Related Stories:
Group proposes execution standards (6/27)
Supreme Court halts execution (6/22)
Ashcroft left out death penalty facts (6/19)
Texas Gov. vetoes death penalty bill (6/18)
DOJ to study racial bias in death penalty (6/14)
Ashcroft denies racial bias in executions (6/7)
Supreme Court overturns execution (6/5)
Group seeks moratorium on executions (6/4)
Supreme Court halts execution (4/17)
Supremes to take on execution case (3/27)
Big decisions await Ashcroft (2/20)