Eric’s Law

S 718, "Eric’s Law," changes federal jury procedures for death penalty cases where juries cannot unanimously agree on sentencing. It requires a new jury to be impaneled if the original jury fails to reach a unanimous recommendation (death, life without parole, or a lesser sentence). If the new jury also fails to agree unanimously, the court must impose a non-death sentence authorized by law. This directly affects federal defendants facing capital punishment in cases where juries deadlock on sentencing recommendations. The bill ensures that sentencing deadlocks cannot result in a death penalty outcome.