I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 1556
To amend title 18, United States Code, to require the impaneling of a
new jury if a jury fails to recommend by unanimous vote a sentence
for conviction of a crime punishable by death.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY25, 2025
Mr. B
RESNAHAN(for himself, Mr. THOMPSONof Pennsylvania, and Mr.
R
ESCHENTHALER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to require the
impaneling of a new jury if a jury fails to recommend
by unanimous vote a sentence for conviction of a crime
punishable by death.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as ‘‘Eric’s Law’’. 4
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SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT TO IMPANEL A NEW JURY IN CER-1
TAIN CASES. 2
(a) A
DDITIONALGROUND FORIMPANELINGJURY.— 3
Section 3593(b)(2) of title 18, United States Code, is 4
amended— 5
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 6
the end; and 7
(2) by adding at the end the following: 8
‘‘(E) a new special hearing is required pur-9
suant to subsection (g); or’’. 10
(b) I
MPANELING OF NEWJURYWHENJURYDOES 11
N
OTREACH AUNANIMOUSRECOMMENDATION .—Section 12
3593 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by add-13
ing at the end the following: 14
‘‘(g) S
PECIALRULEWHENJURYDOESNOTRE-15
TURN AUNANIMOUSRECOMMENDATION .— 16
‘‘(1) I
N GENERAL.—If a jury described in sub-17
section (b)(1) or subparagraphs (A) through (D) of 18
subsection (b)(2) does not, by unanimous vote, make 19
a recommendation whether the defendant should be 20
sentenced to death, to life imprisonment without 21
possibility of release, or some other lesser sentence 22
pursuant to subsection (e), the court, upon motion 23
of the attorney for the government, shall order a 24
new special hearing and impanel a new jury pursu-25
ant to subsection (b). 26
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‘‘(2) IMPOSITION OF SENTENCE .—If the jury 1
impaneled pursuant to paragraph (1) does not reach 2
a unanimous recommendation as to sentence, the 3
court shall impose a sentence other than death au-4
thorized by law.’’. 5
Æ
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