PRIA Logo™
HR1556119th Congress

Eric’s Law

Sponsored By: Representative Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

Introduced

Summary

Mandatory second jury in federal capital sentencing. This bill would require courts to hold a new special hearing and impanel a second jury when an initial jury does not unanimously recommend death, life without release, or another sentence. If the newly impaneled jury also fails to reach a unanimous recommendation, the court would be required to impose a sentence other than death that is authorized by law.

Show full summary
  • Defendants facing federal death-penalty charges: Would receive a second sentencing jury if the first jury is not unanimous on the recommended punishment.
  • Courts and prosecutors: The government may move for the new special hearing, and courts must impanel a new jury under the added procedure when the initial recommendation is non-unanimous.
  • Sentencing outcomes: If the second jury also deadlocks, the judge must impose a non-death sentence authorized by federal law, narrowing when a death sentence can be imposed.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Second jury in federal death cases

This bill would change federal death-penalty sentencing. If the first jury cannot agree on death, life without parole, or another sentence, prosecutors could ask for a new hearing. The judge would have to seat a new jury if prosecutors ask. If the second jury still cannot agree, the judge would give a non-death sentence allowed by law.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]

PA • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]

    AZ • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation