Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act
H.R. 9868118th Congress

Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act

Introduced in the HouseRep. Henry Johnson (D-GA-4)20 sections · 1 min read
Version: Introduced in House · Sep 27, 2024

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act.

Section 2. Clarification of the availability of Federal habeas corpus relief for a person who is sentenced to death though actually innocent

Section 2254(d) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking; or and inserting a semicolon;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and inserting; or; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(3) resulted in, or left in force, a sentence of death that was imposed without consideration of newly discovered evidence which, in combination with the evidence presented at trial, demonstrates that the applicant is probably not guilty of the underlying offense.

Section 3. Clarification of the availability of an evidentiary hearing

Section 2254(e)(2)(A) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in clause (i), by striking or at the end;

(2) in clause (ii) by striking and at the end and inserting or; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(iii) in the case of an applicant sentenced to death, such failure was the result of ineffective assistance of postconviction counsel in a State that prohibits an ineffective assistance of counsel claim on direct appeal; and

(a) State convictions

Section 2244(b) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking A and inserting Except as provided in paragraph (5), a; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

(5) A claim that an applicant was sentenced to death without consideration of newly discovered evidence which, in combination with the evidence presented at trial, could reasonably be expected to demonstrate that the applicant is probably not guilty of the underlying offense may be presented in a second or successive habeas corpus application.

(b) Federal convictions

Section 2255(h) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking or;

(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting; or; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(3) a claim that an applicant was sentenced to death without consideration of newly discovered evidence which, in combination with the evidence presented at trial, could reasonably be expected to demonstrate that the applicant is probably not guilty of the underlying offense.

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