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Bill 4610

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      4610
Type of Legislation:              Joint Resolution JR
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  20000215
Primary Sponsor:                  Leach
All Sponsors:                     Leach, Law, Tripp, Davenport, Easterday, 
                                  Hamilton, Koon, Loftis, Riser and Vaughn
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\gjk\20973sd00.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Judiciary Committee 25 HJ
Subject:                          Death penalty, ten or more jurors to 
                                  decide; Juries, Crimes and Offenses, 
                                  Execution, Constitution of S.C.


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   20000215  Introduced, read first time,           25 HJ
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 22, ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO GRAND AND PETIT JURIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT TEN OR MORE MEMBERS INSTEAD OF ALL TWELVE MEMBERS OF A JURY IN GENERAL SESSIONS COURT MUST VOTE IN FAVOR OF IMPOSING THE DEATH PENALTY WHERE A DEFENDANT HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN ORDER FOR THE DEATH PENALTY TO BE IMPOSED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 22, Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 22. The petit jury of the circuit court shall consist of twelve members and the number of jurors of other courts must be determined by law. All jurors in any trial court must agree to a verdict in order to render the same. The grand jury of each county, and the state grand jury, as the General Assembly may establish by general law, shall consist of eighteen members, twelve of whom must agree in a matter before it can be submitted to the court. Each juror must be a resident of this State and have such other qualifications as the General Assembly may prescribe.

Notwithstanding the above provisions of this section, to impose the death penalty on a defendant convicted of murder in general sessions court, only ten or more members of the jury must vote in favor of imposing the death penalty."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Section 22, Article V of the Constitution of this State, relating to grand and petit juries, be amended so as to provide that ten or more members instead of all twelve members of a jury in general sessions court must vote in favor of imposing the death penalty where a defendant has been convicted of murder in order for the death penalty to be imposed?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."

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