Law Enforcement Officers Death Penalty Act of 1993

Summary

Law Enforcement Officers Death Penalty Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to subject any person who is found guilty of the first degree murder of a Federal law enforcement officer, or certain other Federal officials or employees, to the penalty of death. Subjects anyone who kills a State or local law enforcement officer, while such officer is in the course of duty assisting such a Federal law enforcement officer, to the same punishment as is provided for the killing of the Federal officer in the same circumstances. Establishes procedures for the imposition of the death penalty in such cases. Provides that no person who was less than 18 years of age at the time of the offense may be sentenced to death. Sets forth mitigating and aggravating factors to be considered by the jury in determining whether the death sentence will be imposed. Requires the Government to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea that it intends to seek the death penalty, as well as notice of the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury or the court (upon motion by the defendant) when the defendant is convicted and the Government has filed notice that it intends to seek the death penalty. Allows the Government and the defendant to present any information relevant to a mitigating or aggravating factor without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of creating unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, or misleading the jury. Conditions imposition of the death penalty on a unanimous finding by the jury or, if there is no jury, the court, that: (1) the aggravating factors found to exist sufficiently outweigh any mitigating factor found to exist; or (2) in the absence of a mitigating factor, the aggravating factors alone are sufficient to justify a sentence of death. Specifies that: (1) the jury or the court is never required to impose a death sentence; and (2) the jury shall be so instructed. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the death sentence. Establishes procedures for: (1) appeal from a death sentence; and (2) implementation of such sentence.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 9 September 1993

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 9 September 1993

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6580-6581)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 9 September 1993

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 9 September 1993

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 13 September 1993

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 9 September 1993 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 9 September 1993

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 9 September 1993

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 9 September 1993

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-21] · R · Sponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

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