SF 2297 Summary

• Authorizes the death penalty in Minnesota for murder of a peace officer (defined under section 609.185, paragraph (a), clause (4)) when committed during performance of official duties.

• Requires prosecutors to file written notice of intent to seek death penalty before trial, with court-appointed two-attorney defense teams mandatory in capital cases.

• Establishes a separate sentencing proceeding with jury determination of two issues: whether defendant poses continuing threat to society and whether defendant caused or intended the death, with unanimous jury vote required for death sentence.

• Excludes from death penalty: defendants under 18 at time of crime, developmentally disabled persons, those mentally incompetent to understand the penalty, and pregnant individuals.

• Mandates automatic appellate review by Minnesota Supreme Court within 60 days, creates Board of Pardons commutation process, and specifies lethal injection as execution method with execution set 60-90 days after sentencing.