COLORADO: Colorado governor to call special session to rewrite state's death penalty

Gov. Bill Owens said he plans to call a special legislative session to rewrite Colorado's death penalty law because of recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

Owens, a death penalty supporter, said Wednesday that the session will be held sometime this summer, and that he and other legislators will try to avoid a debate over whether Colorado needs the death penalty.

 "The people of Colorado have said time and time again we need it. Let's get it done," said House Minority Leader Dan Grossman, a Democrat.

 The Supreme Court ruled Monday that juries, not judges, must decide whether convicted criminals should be sentenced to death.

 In Colorado, juries made death penalty decisions until 1995, when a new law gave such decisions to a three-judge panel. Owens said the Supreme Court decision leaves that law in doubt.

 Colorado judges have sentenced three men to die since 1995, and state Attorney General Ken Salazar is trying to determine what will happen to them. They could be re-sentenced to life in prison or face another jury to reconsider their sentences.

 Also Wednesday in New York, the City Council approved a resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty in the state.

 The measure says the governor and state legislature should stop executions until an investigation can be completed into the application of capital punishment, and issues of justice, due process and cost are addressed. The governor, who favors the death penalty, and state lawmakers are not bound to act on the recommendation. 

Colorado to Rewrite Death Penalty

Jun 27, 2002 

By STEVEN K. PAULSON, 

 DENVER  - Gov. Bill Owens said Wednesday he plans to call a special legislative session to rewrite Colorado's death penalty law because of recent U.S. Supreme Court ( news - web sites) rulings.

 Owens, a death penalty supporter, said the session will be held sometime this summer, and that he and other legislators will try to avoid a debate over whether Colorado needs the death penalty.

 "The people of Colorado have said time and time again we need it. Let's get it done," said House Minority Leader Dan Grossman, a Democrat.

 The Supreme Court ruled Monday that juries, not judges, must decide whether convicted criminals should be sentenced to death.

 In Colorado, juries made death penalty decisions until 1995, when a new law gave such decisions to a three-judge panel. Owens said the Supreme Court decision leaves that law in doubt.

 Colorado judges have sentenced three men to die since 1995, and state Attorney General Ken Salazar ( news, bio, voting record) is trying to determine what will happen to them. They could be re-sentenced to life or face another jury to reconsider their sentences.

 Also Wednesday in New York, the City Council approved a resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty in the state.

 The measure says the governor and state Legislature should stop executions until an investigation can be completed into the application of capital punishment, and issues of justice, due process and cost are addressed. The governor, who favors the death penalty, and state lawmakers are not bound to act on the recommendation.