Death Penalty To Be Heard Today

It's not on the calendar until tomorrow...but they will hear it today.

The Denver Post
DENVER—A proposal to eliminate the death penalty is up for a vote in the Colorado Senate on Monday.

House Bill 1274 would take the $1 million now being spent to prosecute death penalty cases each year and use it to investigate cold cases instead.

The bill passed the House by a single vote and another close vote is expected in the Senate.

Colorado has executed only one person in the past 42 years, in 1997. Two men are currently on the state's death row but the bill wouldn't change their sentences.

Gov. Bill Ritter hasn't publicly said whether he would sign the bill if it passes.

As Denver's district attorney he unsuccessfully sought the death penalty seven times. Before becoming DA he expressed personal doubts about capital punishment.