Measure Would Alter Federal Death Penalty System

House Legislation to Renew USA Patriot Act Would Loosen Some Provisions for Execution

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 26, 2005; Page A02

The House bill that would reauthorize the USA Patriot Act anti-terrorism law includes several little-noticed provisions that would dramatically transform the federal death penalty system, allowing smaller juries to decide on executions and giving prosecutors the ability to try again if a jury deadlocks on sentencing.

The bill also triples the number of terrorism-related crimes eligible for the death penalty, adding, among others, the material support law that has been the core of the government's legal strategy against terrorism.