SB 63 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Sections 13A-5-45, 13A-5-46, and 13A-5-47 to prohibit trial courts from overriding jury verdicts in capital cases.

• Changes jury verdicts from "advisory" to binding verdicts in capital sentencing; where a jury returns a death verdict, the court must sentence the defendant to death, and where a jury does not return a death verdict, the court must impose life imprisonment without parole.

• Requires the jury's recommendation to be given consideration by the trial court but makes it binding rather than discretionary for the judge to override.

• Maintains the existing jury voting requirements: majority vote for life imprisonment without parole and at least 10 jurors for a death sentence.

• Takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor or upon otherwise becoming law.