RALEIGH (AP) — A bill designed to clear the way for executions to resume in North Carolina is headed to Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk after receiving final legislative approval.
The Senate on Wednesday approved changes made by the House to a bill that repeals the Racial Justice Act. The 2009 law allows convicted murderers to reduce a death sentence to life in prison if they can prove that race played a major role in their cases.
Republicans already had weakened the law last year.
Opponents argued the law has allowed nearly all 156 death-row inmates to appeal their cases regardless of merit and delayed justice. Supporters say past studies and 2012 court decisions have affirmed the law’s use.
McCrory opposed the law in his 2012 campaign for governor.