Eric’s Law

HR 1556, "Eric’s Law," changes federal jury procedures in capital sentencing cases. It requires a new jury to be impaneled if the original jury cannot unanimously recommend a sentence (death, life without parole, or a lesser sentence) for a defendant convicted of a capital offense. If the new jury also fails to reach unanimity, the judge must impose a sentence other than death. This law directly affects federal defendants in capital cases where juries deadlock on sentencing recommendations. The policy change ensures that unresolved sentencing deadlocks do not prevent a final sentence from being imposed.