Defeat Senate Bill 2748 JACKSON — Senate Bill 2748, authored by Sen. Joey Fillingane of District 41 has been approved by the Judiciary A Committee of the Mississippi House of Representatives and is schedule to be brought to the floor of the House in the next few days.
Under current federal law, all persons charged with capital crimes have a right to sentencing involving a panel of jurors. Current state law allows for sentencing to be done without the use of jury ONLY if the defendant waives his/her right under written consent.
According to Benjamin Russell, associate director of parish social ministry for Catholic Charities in Jackson, SB2748 allows judges to impose the death penalty without the use of jury in cases where the capital defendant “does not” waive his/her right for jury sentencing.
This bill allows no provisions for capital defendants to even be made aware of the right to jury sentencing, Russel said. under this bill, persons may unintentionally waive the right to jury sentencing by ignorance.
This also leaves room for uninformed defense lawyers to inadvertently neglect informing capital defendants of their right to jury sentencing and opens the doors for intentional neglect of capital defendant rights.
Contact members of the Mississippi House of Representatives and demand they vote on SB 2748, Russell said. Please contact members of the MISSISSIPPI hOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND DEMAND THEY VOTE NO ON SENATE BILL 2748!
