SB69 Summary

• Prohibits trial courts from overriding jury verdicts in capital cases by amending Sections 13A-5-45, 13A-5-46, and 13A-5-47 of the Alabama Code.

• Changes jury verdicts in capital sentencing from "advisory" to binding verdicts that courts must follow rather than merely consider.

• Requires courts to sentence defendants to death only when a jury returns a verdict of death, and to life imprisonment without parole when the jury does not recommend death.

• Maintains jury sentencing procedures including the requirement of a majority vote for life imprisonment recommendations and at least 10 jurors voting for a death sentence.

• Becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor or upon otherwise becoming law.