Montgomery, AL – For the third time, a state Senate committee is supporting a moratorium on executions in Alabama.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-1 Wednesday for a bill by Democratic Sen. Hank Sanders of Selma that would institute a three-year moratorium. During the moratorium, the state would make sure the death penalty is being administered fairly and impartially.
Sanders' bill now goes to the Senate, where he has had similar legislation fail in 2005 and 2006. Senate President Pro Tem Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham rates this year's bill as a toss-up.
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