HB275 Summary

• Grants the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all capital murder cases where a defendant is convicted and sentenced to death, removing the option for direct appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court.

• Requires death penalty appeals to have priority over all other cases and mandates that appeals be expedited to the extent practicable by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

• Amends multiple code sections to update language regarding the appellate review process for death sentences, including procedures for automatic review and sentencing determinations by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

• Makes technical and nonsubstantive revisions to existing code language regarding execution warrants, execution procedures, and methods of execution to update statutory style and terminology.

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