Students at The University of Alabama weigh in on the House Judiciary Committee’s decision to send the bill that would end judicial override to the House floor on Wednesday.
The committee voted 10-2 on the bill that would no longer allow judges to rule on the death penalty, shifting the responsibility to the jury instead.
“It would appear that having 12 people on a jury making the decision would be more valid because there are more opinions,” said Carter Helm a freshman majoring in marketing from Chattanooga, Tn.
Jameson Evans a sophomore majoring in computer science from Moscow, Idaho weighed in with his experience from his home state.
“A jury always makes that decision in Idaho and it has never been a problem,” he said.
Alabama is the only state that still allows the judge to have the final ruling on death penalty cases, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org. …show more content…
Judicial override brings to light cause for concern for the safety of the jurors.
“I think having to make that life altering of a decision for the loved one of someone else would pose a threat because the jurors eventually have to return to their normal lives without protection,” Helm said.
Jacob Raines a sophomore majoring in psychology and political science from Fairview, TN who is in favor of the bill passing does not think the jurors would face any extra danger. Any threats jurors may receive as a result of the death penalty would have already been there with a life in prison sentence, he said.
“There is merit in one judge deciding who is very educated with experience versus a jury who only has their emotions to go off of, however, people without experience are going to be more hesitant to sentence someone to death,” Helm
The committee voted 10-2 on the bill that would no longer allow judges to rule on the death penalty, shifting the responsibility to the jury instead.
“It would appear that having 12 people on a jury making the decision would be more valid because there are more opinions,” said Carter Helm a freshman majoring in marketing from Chattanooga, Tn.
Jameson Evans a sophomore majoring in computer science from Moscow, Idaho weighed in with his experience from his home state.
“A jury always makes that decision in Idaho and it has never been a problem,” he said.
Alabama is the only state that still allows the judge to have the final ruling on death penalty cases, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org. …show more content…
Judicial override brings to light cause for concern for the safety of the jurors.
“I think having to make that life altering of a decision for the loved one of someone else would pose a threat because the jurors eventually have to return to their normal lives without protection,” Helm said.
Jacob Raines a sophomore majoring in psychology and political science from Fairview, TN who is in favor of the bill passing does not think the jurors would face any extra danger. Any threats jurors may receive as a result of the death penalty would have already been there with a life in prison sentence, he said.
“There is merit in one judge deciding who is very educated with experience versus a jury who only has their emotions to go off of, however, people without experience are going to be more hesitant to sentence someone to death,” Helm