Senate File 167 - Introduced SENATE FILE 167 BY BEHN , CHAPMAN , HOUSER , GREINER , FEENSTRA , GUTH , ANDERSON , BERTRAND , SEGEBART , CHELGREN , ZAUN , SORENSON , WHITVER , KAPUCIAN , and BOETTGER A BILL FOR An Act creating the penalty of death for the commission of 1 murder in the first degree, kidnapping, and sexual abuse 2 against the same minor, providing a penalty, and including 3 effective date provisions. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj
S.F. 167 Section 1. Section 13B.4, Code 2013, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 6A. The state public defender shall perform 3 all of the following duties with respect to the appointment of 4 counsel for indigent persons in cases in which a sentence of 5 death may be or is to be imposed: 6 a. Provide or contract with attorneys for appointment as 7 lead counsel and cocounsel to provide legal services in cases 8 where a person is charged with murder in the first degree, 9 kidnapping, and sexual abuse under section 902.15, and the 10 state has given notice of intent to seek the death penalty or 11 in cases in which a sentence of death is to be imposed. 12 b. Conduct or sponsor specialized training programs for 13 attorneys representing persons who may be executed. 14 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 602.10112 Qualifications of counsel 15 in death penalty cases. 16 The supreme court shall prescribe rules which establish 17 minimum standards and procedures by which attorneys may become 18 qualified to provide legal services as lead counsel in cases in 19 which a sentence of death may be or is to be imposed. 20 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 812A.1 Procedure to determine sanity 21 of condemned inmate. 22 1. At any time prior to execution of an inmate under section 23 902.1, if the director of the department of corrections or 24 the counsel for a person who is under a sentence of execution 25 has cause to believe that the inmate is suffering from such 26 a diseased or deranged condition of the mind as to prevent 27 the defendant from knowing the nature and quality of the act 28 the defendant has been convicted of, or from understanding 29 that trial on the offense has taken place and that execution 30 proceedings are about to take place, or to otherwise cause the 31 defendant to lack the capacity to understand the sentence which 32 has been imposed and to participate in any legal proceedings 33 relating to the sentence, the director or counsel may file a 34 request with the court that issued the warrant for execution 35 -1- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 1/ 23
S.F. 167 for a determination of the inmate’s sanity. If the district 1 court determines that there is not sufficient reason to believe 2 that the inmate is insane, the court shall enter an order 3 denying the request and shall state the grounds for denying the 4 request. If the court believes that there is sufficient reason 5 to believe that the inmate is insane, the court shall suspend 6 the execution and conduct a hearing to determine the sanity of 7 the inmate. 8 2. At the hearing, the court shall determine the issue of 9 the inmate’s sanity. Prior to the hearing, the court shall 10 appoint two licensed physicians or licensed psychologists, or 11 one licensed physician and one licensed psychologist, who are 12 qualified by training and practice, for purposes of conducting 13 a psychiatric or psychological examination of the inmate. The 14 physicians or psychologists shall examine the inmate and report 15 any findings in writing to the court within ten days after 16 the order of examination is issued. The inmate shall have 17 the right to present evidence and cross-examine any witnesses 18 at the hearing. Any statement made by the inmate during the 19 course of any examination provided for in this section, whether 20 or not the inmate consents to the examination, shall not be 21 admitted into evidence against the inmate in any criminal 22 proceeding for purposes other than a determination of the 23 inmate’s sanity. 24 3. If, at the conclusion of a hearing held pursuant to 25 this section, the court determines that the inmate is sane, 26 the court shall enter an order setting a date for the inmate’s 27 execution, which shall be carried into effect in the same 28 manner as provided in the original sentence. A copy of the 29 order shall be sent to the director of the department of 30 corrections and the governor. 31 4. If, at the conclusion of a hearing held pursuant to this 32 section, the court determines that the inmate is insane, the 33 court shall suspend the execution until further order. At any 34 time after issuance of the order, if the court has sufficient 35 -2- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 2/ 23
S.F. 167 reason to believe that the inmate has become sane, the court 1 shall again determine the sanity of the inmate as provided 2 by this section. Proceedings pursuant to this section may 3 continue to be held at such times as the court orders until 4 it is either determined that the inmate is sane or incurably 5 insane. 6 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION . 814.28 Review of death sentence. 7 1. In a case in which a sentence of death is imposed, the 8 supreme court shall automatically review the judgment and 9 sentence. The court’s review of the case shall be de novo. The 10 case shall not be transferred to the court of appeals. 11 2. A review by the supreme court of a judgment and sentence 12 imposing the punishment of death has priority over all other 13 criminal and other actions pending before the supreme court. 14 3. The supreme court shall review the trial and judgment, 15 and shall separately review the sentencing proceeding. Upon 16 determining that errors did not occur at the trial requiring 17 reversal or modification of the judgment, the supreme court 18 shall proceed to determine if the sentence of death is lawfully 19 imposed. In its review of the sentencing proceeding the 20 supreme court shall determine all of the following: 21 a. Whether the sentence of death was imposed capriciously or 22 under the influence of prejudice or other arbitrary factor. 23 b. Whether the special verdicts returned under section 24 901.11 are supported by the evidence. 25 c. Whether the sentence of death is excessive or 26 disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, 27 considering both the crime and the defendant. 28 4. If the supreme court determines that the sentence of 29 death was not lawfully imposed, the court shall set aside the 30 sentence and shall remand the case to the trial court for a 31 second sentencing proceeding to determine if the imposition of 32 death is warranted. 33 5. If the supreme court affirms the judgment and sentence 34 of death, the clerk of the supreme court shall certify the 35 -3- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 3/ 23
S.F. 167 judgment of the supreme court under the seal of the court to 1 the clerk of the trial court. 2 Sec. 5. Section 815.10, Code 2013, is amended by adding the 3 following new subsection: 4 NEW SUBSECTION . 1A. If two attorneys have not already 5 been appointed pursuant to section 13B.4 or 13B.9, the court 6 shall appoint, for each indigent person who is charged with 7 murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse under section 902.15, and 8 in which a notice of intent to seek the death penalty has been 9 filed, two attorneys who are qualified under section 602.10112 10 to represent the person in the proceedings and in all state 11 legal proceedings which take place from the time the person 12 is indicted or arraigned until the person is sentenced on the 13 charge. In addition, if at any point in federal postconviction 14 proceedings an indigent person is not afforded court-appointed 15 counsel, the state shall provide counsel to the person to 16 present any claims determined meritorious by the federal court 17 if the person is not otherwise represented by legal counsel. 18 Only private attorneys and public defenders who are qualified 19 to provide representation in cases in which the death penalty 20 may be imposed are eligible for appointment or assignment to a 21 case in which the death penalty may be imposed. 22 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION . 901.11 Murder proceedings —— request 23 for death penalty —— penalty proceedings. 24 1. If a notice of intent to seek the death penalty has 25 been filed, objections to the imposition of the death penalty 26 based upon allegations that a defendant was intellectually 27 disabled or mentally ill at the time of the commission of 28 the offense shall be raised within the time provided for the 29 filing of pretrial motions under rule of criminal procedure 30 2.11, Iowa court rules. The court may, for good cause shown, 31 allow late filing of the motion. Hearing on the motion shall 32 be held prior to trial and the burden of proof shall be on the 33 defendant to prove intellectual disability or mental illness 34 by a preponderance of the evidence. However, a rebuttable 35 -4- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 4/ 23
S.F. 167 presumption of intellectual disability arises if a defendant 1 has an intelligence quotient of seventy or below. If the 2 court finds that the defendant is intellectually disabled, 3 the defendant, if convicted of murder, kidnapping, and sexual 4 abuse under section 902.15, shall not be sentenced to death but 5 shall be sentenced to life imprisonment in the manner provided 6 in section 902.1, subsection 1. A finding by the court that 7 the evidence presented by the defendant at the hearing does 8 not preclude the imposition of the death penalty under this 9 section and section 902.15 shall not preclude the introduction 10 of evidence of intellectual disability or mental illness during 11 the penalty proceeding. If the court finds that evidence of 12 intellectual disability or mental illness does not preclude 13 imposition of the death penalty, evidence of intellectual 14 disability or mental illness may be reviewed by the jury in 15 the penalty proceeding and the jury shall not be informed of 16 the finding in the initial proceeding at any time during the 17 penalty proceeding. 18 2. If at the trial on a charge of murder, kidnapping, 19 and sexual abuse under section 902.15, the state intends to 20 request that the death penalty be imposed under section 902.1, 21 subsection 3, the prosecutor shall file a notice of intent 22 to seek the death penalty, at the time of and as part of the 23 information or indictment filed in the case. 24 3. If a notice of intent to seek the death penalty has been 25 filed, the trial shall be conducted in bifurcated proceedings 26 before the same trier of fact. During the initial proceeding, 27 the jury, or the court, if the defendant waives the right to a 28 jury trial, shall decide only whether the defendant is guilty 29 or not guilty of murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse under 30 section 902.15. 31 a. If, in the initial proceeding, the court or jury finds 32 the defendant guilty of, or the defendant pleads guilty to, 33 an offense other than murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse 34 under section 902.15, the court shall sentence the defendant 35 -5- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 5/ 23
S.F. 167 in accordance with the sentencing procedures set forth in rule 1 of criminal procedure 2.23, Iowa court rules, and chapters 901 2 through 909, which are applicable to the offense. 3 b. If the court or jury finds the defendant guilty of, or 4 the defendant pleads guilty to, murder, kidnapping, and sexual 5 abuse under section 902.15, but the prosecuting attorney waives 6 the death penalty, the court shall sentence the defendant to 7 life imprisonment in accordance with the sentencing procedures 8 set forth in rule of criminal procedure 2.23, Iowa court rules, 9 and chapters 901 through 909, which are otherwise applicable 10 to convictions of murder in the first degree, kidnapping, and 11 sexual abuse. 12 c. If the court or jury finds the defendant guilty of 13 murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse under section 902.15, or a 14 defendant enters a plea of guilty in the initial proceeding, 15 and the prosecuting attorney does not waive imposition of the 16 death penalty, a penalty proceeding shall be held in the manner 17 provided in subsections 4 through 12. 18 4. No sooner than twenty-four hours after a verdict of 19 guilty or a plea of guilty to the charge of murder, kidnapping, 20 and sexual abuse under section 902.15 is returned in the 21 initial proceeding, a penalty proceeding shall be held to 22 determine whether the defendant shall be sentenced to death 23 or to life imprisonment. The proceeding shall be conducted 24 in the trial court before the trial jury, or the court if the 25 defendant has waived the right to a jury trial or has waived 26 the right for the proceeding to be before the trial jury. Both 27 the state and the defendant shall have the right to present 28 opening statements at the commencement of the proceeding. In 29 the proceeding, evidence relevant to the existence of any 30 aggravating or mitigating circumstances may be presented as 31 follows: 32 a. The state or the defendant may present evidence relevant 33 to the conviction of the criminal offenses enumerated in 34 section 902.15 and any aggravating circumstances other than 35 -6- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 6/ 23
S.F. 167 juvenile delinquency adjudications for offenses which carry 1 penalties equivalent to the penalties imposed for simple or 2 serious misdemeanors. The state may introduce evidence of the 3 actual harm caused by the commission of the murder, kidnapping, 4 and sexual abuse under section 902.15, including but not 5 limited to evidence relating to the life of the victim and the 6 impact of the loss of the victim to the victim’s family and 7 society. 8 b. The defendant may present evidence that the defendant 9 was intellectually disabled at the time of the commission of 10 the offense. The burden of proof shall be on the defendant 11 to prove intellectual disability by a preponderance of the 12 evidence. However, a rebuttable presumption of intellectual 13 disability arises if a defendant has an intelligence quotient 14 of seventy or below. 15 c. The state or the defendant may present evidence relevant 16 to any mitigating circumstances which may exist. Mitigating 17 circumstances may include the following circumstances: 18 (1) The defendant was under the influence of an extreme 19 mental or emotional disturbance insufficient to constitute a 20 defense. 21 (2) The age of the defendant at the time of the murder. 22 (3) The defendant’s capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness 23 of the defendant’s conduct and to conform that conduct to the 24 requirements of law was significantly impaired as a result of a 25 mental disease or defect or intellectual disability, but not to 26 a degree sufficient to constitute a defense. 27 (4) The defendant has no significant history of prior adult 28 criminal activity. 29 (5) The defendant acted under extreme duress or under the 30 substantial domination of another person. 31 (6) The defendant did not directly commit the murder, 32 kidnapping, and sexual abuse and the defendant did not intend 33 to kill or anticipate that lethal force would be used. 34 (7) Any other factor which is relevant to the defendant’s 35 -7- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 7/ 23
S.F. 167 character or record or to the circumstances of the offense. 1 d. The state and the defendant or the defendant’s counsel 2 shall be permitted to present and cross-examine witnesses and 3 present arguments for or against a sentence of death. Evidence 4 regarding aggravating and mitigating circumstances shall not 5 be governed by the rules governing admissibility of evidence, 6 except that introduction of evidence secured in violation of 7 the Constitution of the United States or of the Constitution of 8 the State of Iowa shall not be permitted. 9 5. At the conclusion of presentation of evidence in 10 the penalty proceeding, the state and the defendant or the 11 defendant’s counsel shall be permitted to make closing 12 arguments, including any rebuttal arguments, in the same manner 13 as in the initial proceeding and the following issues shall be 14 determined by the jury or the court, if there is no jury: 15 a. Whether the aggravating circumstance or circumstances 16 have been established beyond a reasonable doubt and outweigh 17 any one or more mitigating circumstances. 18 b. Whether the defendant shall be sentenced to death. 19 6. A recommendation for a sentence of death shall not be 20 permitted if the recommendation is based on the race, color, 21 religious beliefs, national origin, or sex of the defendant 22 or of any victim. After submission of the issues, but prior 23 to the return of a finding in the penalty proceeding, if 24 the matter is tried before a jury, the court shall instruct 25 the jury that in considering whether a sentence of death 26 is justified, it shall not consider race, color, religious 27 beliefs, national origin, or sex of the defendant or of any 28 victim. The court shall further instruct the jury that it 29 shall not return a sentence of death unless it concludes 30 that such a sentence would be recommended no matter what the 31 race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, or sex of the 32 defendant or of any victim may be. 33 7. After submission of the issues, but prior to the 34 commencement of the jury deliberations in the penalty 35 -8- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 8/ 23
S.F. 167 proceeding, the court shall instruct the jury that if the 1 defendant is not sentenced to death, the court is required by 2 law to impose a sentence of imprisonment until death without 3 parole. The court shall further instruct the jury that 4 the sentence of imprisonment until death without parole is 5 required by law if the jury fails to reach a unanimous verdict 6 recommending a sentence of death. 7 8. Concurrently with the return of the findings on the 8 issues submitted under subsection 5, the jury, or the court if 9 there is no jury, shall return special verdicts as follows: 10 a. Which aggravating circumstances were established beyond a 11 reasonable doubt and were considered in reaching the verdict. 12 b. Which mitigating circumstances were established and 13 were considered in reaching the verdict returned on the issue 14 specified in subsection 5, paragraph “a” . 15 9. If the jury, or the court if there is no jury, returns a 16 unanimous affirmative finding on each of the issues submitted 17 under subsection 5, paragraphs “a” and “b” , the court shall 18 enter a judgment of conviction and shall sentence the defendant 19 to death as provided in section 902.1, subsection 3. 20 10. However, if evidence that the defendant was not a major 21 participant in the commission of the murder, kidnapping, and 22 sexual abuse under section 902.15, and that the defendant’s 23 conduct did not manifest a reckless indifference to human life 24 is presented to the jury, or the court if there is no jury, the 25 jury or the court shall also return a special verdict on the 26 issue. If the jury unanimously determines, or the court, if 27 there is no jury, finds that a preponderance of evidence exists 28 that shows that the defendant was not a major participant in 29 the commission of the murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse 30 under section 902.15, and that the defendant’s conduct did not 31 manifest a reckless indifference to human life, the court shall 32 enter a judgment of conviction and shall sentence the defendant 33 to life imprisonment as provided in section 902.1, subsection 34 1, even if the jury or the court returns unanimous affirmative 35 -9- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 9/ 23
S.F. 167 findings on each of the issues submitted under subsection 5. 1 11. If the jury, or the court if there is no jury, returns 2 a negative finding on any of the issues submitted under 3 subsection 5, paragraphs “a” or “b” , the court shall enter a 4 judgment of conviction and shall sentence the defendant to life 5 imprisonment as provided in section 902.1, subsection 1. 6 12. After a verdict has been rendered it shall be recorded 7 on the jury verdict form and shall be read and recorded in open 8 court. The jurors shall be collectively asked by the court 9 whether the verdict returned is their true and correct verdict. 10 Even though no juror makes any declaration to the contrary, the 11 jury shall, if either party so requests, be polled and each 12 juror shall be separately asked whether the verdict rendered by 13 the jury foreperson is the juror’s true and correct verdict. 14 If, upon either the collective or the separate inquiry, any 15 juror denies that the verdict is the juror’s verdict, the court 16 shall refuse to accept the verdict. The court may direct 17 inquiry or permit inquiry by counsel to ascertain whether any 18 juror has been subjected to coercion or has become confused 19 during the jury deliberation process. The court may, as 20 appropriate, direct the jury to resume deliberation in the 21 case. If no disagreement on the verdict is expressed by any of 22 the jurors, the court shall discharge the jury. 23 13. This section shall not apply to a defendant who 24 was under the age of eighteen at the time the offense was 25 committed. 26 Sec. 7. Section 902.1, subsection 1, Code 2013, is amended 27 to read as follows: 28 1. Upon Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 or 29 3, upon a plea of guilty, a verdict of guilty, or a special 30 verdict upon which a judgment of conviction of a class “A” 31 felony may be rendered, the court shall enter a judgment of 32 conviction and shall commit the defendant into the custody of 33 the director of the Iowa department of corrections for the 34 rest of the defendant’s life. Nothing in the Iowa corrections 35 -10- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 10/ 23
S.F. 167 code pertaining to deferred judgment, deferred sentence, 1 suspended sentence, or reconsideration of sentence applies 2 to a sentence of life imprisonment for a class “A” felony, 3 and a person convicted of a class “A” felony and sentenced to 4 life imprisonment shall not be released on parole unless the 5 governor commutes the sentence to a term of years. 6 Sec. 8. Section 902.1, Code 2013, is amended by adding the 7 following new subsection: 8 NEW SUBSECTION . 3. Notwithstanding subsection 1, upon 9 return of a plea or verdict of guilty to the offense of murder 10 in the first degree, kidnapping, and sexual abuse under section 11 902.15, and a return of a verdict in favor of a sentence of 12 death in a penalty proceeding conducted as provided in section 13 901.11, the court shall enter a judgment of conviction and 14 shall commit the defendant into the custody of the director 15 of the Iowa department of corrections. The sentence shall 16 be carried out by the administration of a lethal injection 17 pursuant to rules adopted by the board of corrections. If 18 a defendant, for whom a warrant of execution is issued, is 19 pregnant, the execution shall not take place until after the 20 defendant is no longer pregnant. If a defendant, for whom 21 a warrant of execution is issued, is suffering from such a 22 diseased or deranged condition of the mind as to prevent the 23 defendant from knowing the nature and quality of the act 24 the defendant has been convicted of, or from understanding 25 that trial on the offense has taken place and that execution 26 proceedings are about to take place, or otherwise causes the 27 defendant to lack the capacity to understand the sentence which 28 has been imposed and to participate in any legal proceedings 29 relating to the sentence, the execution shall not take place 30 until after the defendant’s capacity is restored. If the 31 director of the department of corrections or the defendant’s 32 counsel files a request with the court which issued the warrant 33 of execution, alleging that the defendant suffers from such 34 a diseased or deranged condition, a hearing on the matter 35 -11- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 11/ 23
S.F. 167 shall be held in the manner provided in section 812A.1. If a 1 defendant was under the age of eighteen at the time the offense 2 was committed, the defendant shall be sentenced as provided 3 in subsection 1. For the purposes of this section, “lethal 4 injection” means a continuous intravenous injection of a lethal 5 substance sufficient to cause death. 6 Sec. 9. NEW SECTION . 902.15 Commission of first degree 7 murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse. 8 A person who commits murder in the first degree, kidnapping, 9 and sexual abuse with respect to the same victim, who is 10 not intellectually disabled or mentally ill, and who is age 11 eighteen or older at the time the offense is committed, shall 12 be eligible for a sentence of death under section 902.1, 13 subsection 3, if the victim was a minor. 14 For purposes of this section, “intellectually disabled” 15 means significant subaverage general intellectual functioning 16 accompanied by significant deficits or impairments in adaptive 17 functioning manifested in the developmental period, but no 18 later than the age of eighteen years, and accompanied by 19 deficits in adaptive behavior. 20 For purposes of this section, “mentally ill” means the 21 condition of a person who is suffering from a chronic and 22 persistent serious mental disease or disorder and who, by 23 reason of that condition, lacks sufficient judgment to make 24 responsible decisions regarding treatment and is reasonably 25 likely to injure the person’s self or others who may come into 26 contact with the person if the person is allowed to remain at 27 liberty without treatment. 28 Sec. 10. NEW SECTION . 902.16 Data collection for death 29 penalty. 30 1. The supreme court shall collect data on all murder, 31 kidnapping, and sexual abuse charges in which the death 32 penalty is or was not waived, which are filed and processed 33 in the courts in this state. This data may be used by the 34 supreme court to determine whether death sentences imposed 35 -12- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 12/ 23
S.F. 167 are excessive or disproportionate, or under the influence of 1 prejudice as a result of racial discrimination under section 2 814.28. The court shall make this data available to litigants 3 in death penalty cases. 4 2. Data collected by public officials concerning factors 5 relevant to the imposition of the death sentence shall be made 6 publicly available. 7 Sec. 11. NEW SECTION . 903C.1 Executions —— refusal to 8 perform. 9 An employee of the state who may lawfully perform, assist, or 10 participate in the execution of a person pursuant to section 11 902.1, and rules adopted by the department of corrections, 12 shall not be required to perform, assist, or participate in 13 the execution. State employees who refuse to perform, assist, 14 or participate in the execution of a person shall not be 15 discriminated against in any way, including but not limited 16 to employment, promotion, advancement, transfer, licensing, 17 education, training, or the granting of any privileges or 18 appointments because of the refusal to perform, assist, or 19 participate in the execution. 20 Sec. 12. Section 904.105, Code 2013, is amended by adding 21 the following new subsection: 22 NEW SUBSECTION . 9A. Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A 23 pertaining to executions of persons convicted of murder, 24 kidnapping, and sexual abuse under section 902.15. Rules 25 adopted shall include but are not limited to rules permitting 26 the witnessing of executions by members of the public and the 27 victim’s family. Invitations to witness an execution shall at 28 least be extended to the following representatives of the news 29 media: 30 a. A representative from a wire service serving Iowa. 31 b. A representative from a broadcasting network serving 32 Iowa. 33 c. A representative from a television station located in 34 Iowa. 35 -13- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 13/ 23
S.F. 167 d. A representative from a radio station located in Iowa. 1 e. A representative from a daily newspaper published in 2 Iowa. 3 f. A representative from a weekly newspaper published in 4 Iowa. 5 g. A representative from the news media from the community 6 in which the condemned person resided, if that community is 7 located in Iowa. 8 Sec. 13. 9 Rules of criminal procedure, Iowa court rules, are amended 10 by adding the following four sections of this Act. 11 Sec. 14. 2.___ DEATH PENALTY PROCEDURE. 12 2.___(1) If a notice of intent to seek the death penalty has 13 been filed, objections to the imposition of the death penalty 14 based upon allegations that a defendant was intellectually 15 disabled at the time of the commission of the offense shall 16 be raised within the time provided for the filing of pretrial 17 motions under R.Cr.P. 2.11, Iowa court rules. The court 18 may, for good cause shown, allow late filing of the motion. 19 Hearing on the motion shall be held prior to trial and the 20 burden of proof shall be on the defendant to prove intellectual 21 disability by a preponderance of the evidence. However, a 22 rebuttable presumption of intellectual disability arises if a 23 defendant has an intelligence quotient of seventy or below. 24 A finding of the court that the evidence presented by the 25 defendant at the hearing does not preclude the imposition of 26 the death penalty under this rule and Iowa Code section 902.15 27 shall not preclude the introduction of evidence of intellectual 28 disability during the penalty proceeding. If the court finds 29 that the evidence presented by the defendant does not preclude 30 the imposition of the death penalty, evidence of intellectual 31 disability may be reviewed by the jury during the penalty 32 proceeding and the jury shall not be informed of the finding 33 in the initial proceeding at any time during the penalty 34 proceeding. 35 -14- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 14/ 23
S.F. 167 2.___(2) Upon a finding or plea that a defendant is guilty 1 of murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse under Iowa Code section 2 902.15, in an initial proceeding, if a notice of intent to seek 3 the death penalty has been filed and has not been waived, the 4 court shall conduct a separate penalty proceeding to determine 5 whether the defendant shall be sentenced to death or to life 6 imprisonment. The penalty proceeding shall be conducted in 7 the trial court before the trial jury, or the court, if there 8 is no jury, no sooner than twenty-four hours after the return 9 of the verdict or plea in the initial proceeding. In the 10 penalty proceeding, additional evidence may be presented as to 11 the conviction for murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse under 12 section 902.15, or any aggravating or mitigating circumstance 13 which may exist. Presentation of evidence which is relevant 14 to the existence of an aggravating or mitigating circumstance 15 shall not be bound by the rules of evidence. This subsection 16 does not authorize the introduction of any evidence secured in 17 violation of the Constitution of the United States or of the 18 Constitution of the State of Iowa. The state and the defendant 19 or the defendant’s counsel shall be permitted to cross-examine 20 witnesses and to present arguments for or against a sentence of 21 death. 22 2.___(3) On conclusion of the presentation of the evidence 23 in the penalty proceeding, the state and the defendant or 24 the defendant’s counsel shall be permitted to make closing 25 arguments, including any rebuttal arguments, in the same manner 26 as in the initial proceeding and the court shall submit each of 27 the following issues to the jury: 28 a. Whether one or more aggravating circumstances outweigh 29 any one or more mitigating circumstances. 30 b. Whether the defendant shall be sentenced to death. 31 If the case is not tried to a jury, the court shall determine 32 the issues. 33 2.___(4) The state must prove the issue in rule 2.___(3)(a) 34 beyond a reasonable doubt, and the jury, or the court if there 35 -15- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 15/ 23
S.F. 167 is no jury, shall return a special verdict of “yes” or “no” on 1 each issue. 2 2.___(5) If the case is tried to a jury, the court shall 3 charge the jury that: 4 a. It shall answer any issue “yes” if it agrees unanimously. 5 b. It shall answer any issue “no” if the jurors unanimously 6 agree that the answer is “no” or if the jurors do not 7 unanimously agree that the answer is “yes”. 8 2.___(6) Concurrently with the return of the special 9 verdicts under rule 2.___(3), the jury, or the court if there 10 is no jury, shall also return special verdicts as follows: 11 a. Which aggravating circumstances were established beyond 12 a reasonable doubt and were considered in reaching the verdict 13 returned on the issue specified in rule 2.___(3)(a). 14 b. Which mitigating circumstances were established and 15 were considered in reaching the verdict returned on the issue 16 specified in rule 2.___(3)(a). 17 2.___(7) If the jury, or the court if there is no jury, 18 returns an affirmative finding on all applicable issues, the 19 court shall sentence the defendant to death. If the jury or 20 the court returns a negative finding on any applicable issue, 21 the court shall sentence the defendant to the custody of the 22 director of the department of corrections for confinement for 23 the rest of the defendant’s life. 24 2.___(8) After a verdict has been rendered it shall be 25 recorded on the jury verdict form and shall be read and 26 recorded in open court. The jurors shall be collectively asked 27 by the court whether the verdict returned is their true and 28 correct verdict. Even though no juror makes any declaration 29 to the contrary, the jury shall, if either party so requests, 30 be polled and each juror shall be separately asked whether the 31 verdict rendered by the jury foreperson is the juror’s true 32 and correct verdict. If, upon either the collective or the 33 separate inquiry, any juror denies that the verdict is the 34 juror’s verdict, the court shall refuse to accept the verdict. 35 -16- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 16/ 23
S.F. 167 The court may direct inquiry or permit inquiry by counsel to 1 ascertain whether any juror has been subjected to coercion 2 or has become confused during the jury deliberation process. 3 The court may, as appropriate, direct the jury to resume 4 deliberation in the case. If no disagreement on the verdict 5 is expressed by any of the jurors, the court shall discharge 6 the jury. 7 2.___(9) Provisions relating to deferred judgment, deferred 8 sentence, suspended sentence, reconsideration of sentence, 9 probation, parole, or work release contained in Iowa Code 10 chapters 901 through 909 do not apply to a conviction of 11 murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse under Iowa Code section 12 902.15 if the defendant is sentenced to death. 13 Sec. 15. 2.___ AUTOMATIC REVIEW STAY OF EXECUTION OF 14 JUDGMENT. 15 2.___(1) A judgment of conviction and sentence of death 16 shall be reviewed automatically in the manner provided in Iowa 17 Code section 814.28, and the Iowa supreme court has exclusive 18 jurisdiction of the review. 19 2.___(2) Upon entry of judgment and sentence of death, the 20 trial court shall prepare a complete record and transcript of 21 the action in the manner provided in the rules of criminal 22 procedure and shall docket the record and transcript with the 23 clerk of the supreme court. 24 2.___(3) The execution of judgment of the trial court is 25 stayed as a matter of law from the time of its entry until 26 the judgment of the supreme court is certified to and entered 27 by the trial court. Upon entry of a judgment of the supreme 28 court which affirms the conviction and sentence, the stay of 29 execution of judgment terminates as a matter of law. 30 2.___(4) All court costs required due to the automatic 31 preparation of the record and transcript, docketing with the 32 supreme court, and stay of execution of judgment shall be 33 assessed to the state. 34 Sec. 16. 2.___ ISSUANCE OF WARRANT. 35 -17- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 17/ 23
S.F. 167 2.___(1) Upon entry by the trial court of the judgment of 1 the supreme court affirming a judgment and sentence of death, 2 a district judge shall within five days of the entry issue 3 a warrant under the seal of the court for the execution of 4 the sentence of death. The warrant shall specifically set 5 forth the offense and the fact of conviction, shall state 6 the judgment and sentence of the court, shall state that the 7 judgment and sentence were affirmed by the supreme court and 8 the date of entry of judgment of the supreme court in the 9 trial court, and shall, subject to the requirements of Iowa 10 Code section 902.1, subsection 3, specify a range of five days 11 for execution of the defendant which shall be not less than 12 fifty nor more than sixty days after the date of entry in the 13 trial court of the judgment of the supreme court affirming the 14 judgment and sentence of death. The warrant shall be directed 15 to the director of the department of corrections commanding 16 the director to cause the warrant to be executed within the 17 dates specified. The trial court shall deliver the warrant 18 to the sheriff of the county in which judgment of conviction 19 was entered and the sheriff shall deliver the warrant to the 20 director of the department of corrections. The director of 21 the department of corrections shall acknowledge receipt of the 22 warrant and the defendant, and the sheriff shall return the 23 acknowledgment to the office of the clerk of the trial court 24 from which the warrant was issued. 25 2.___(2) Immediately after issuance of a warrant ordering 26 a sentence of death, the clerk of the trial court issuing the 27 warrant shall transmit by certified mail to the governor a copy 28 of the indictment, the plea, the verdict and special findings, 29 the affirmation of judgment and sentence by the supreme court, 30 and the complete transcript of the trial court. 31 2.___(3) Notwithstanding rule 2.___(1), if a defendant, 32 for whom a warrant of execution is issued, is pregnant, the 33 execution shall not take place until after the defendant 34 is no longer pregnant. Notwithstanding rule 2.___(1), if 35 -18- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 18/ 23
S.F. 167 a defendant, for whom a warrant of execution is issued, is 1 suffering from such a diseased or deranged condition of the 2 mind as to prevent the defendant from knowing the nature 3 and quality of the act the defendant has been convicted of, 4 or from understanding that trial on the offense has taken 5 place and that execution proceedings are about to take place, 6 or to otherwise cause the defendant to lack the capacity 7 to understand the sentence which has been imposed and to 8 participate in any legal proceedings relating to the sentence, 9 the execution shall not take place until after the defendant is 10 no longer suffering from the condition. 11 Sec. 17. 2.___ EVIDENCE AT PENALTY PROCEEDING WHERE DEATH 12 SENTENCE REQUESTED. 13 2.___(1) At a reasonable time before the commencement of 14 initial proceedings in a murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse 15 trial in which a sentence of death has been requested, each 16 party shall file and serve upon the other party the following: 17 a. A list of all aggravating or mitigating circumstances 18 which the party intends to prove during the sentencing 19 proceedings. 20 b. The names of all persons whom the party intends to call 21 as witnesses during the sentencing proceedings. 22 c. Notwithstanding rule 2.14, copies, or for inspection 23 purposes, the location, of all documents, including books, 24 papers, writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, 25 telephone records, and other data compilations from which 26 information can be obtained, or other objects which the 27 party intends to offer into evidence during the sentencing 28 proceedings. If copies are not supplied to opposing counsel, 29 the party shall make the items available for inspection and 30 copying without order of the court. 31 2.___(2) In proceedings to determine whether the sentence 32 shall be death or life imprisonment, evidence may be presented 33 as to any matter which the trial court deems relevant to 34 the sentence, including but not limited to the nature, 35 -19- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 19/ 23
S.F. 167 circumstances, and manner of completion of the murder, 1 kidnapping, and sexual abuse, and the defendant’s character, 2 background, history, and mental and physical condition. The 3 trial court shall admit any relevant admissible evidence 4 respecting any aggravating or mitigating circumstances, if the 5 party has included the circumstance on a list provided pursuant 6 to this rule, or good cause is shown for the failure to do so. 7 Sec. 18. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT. Section 25B.2, subsection 8 3, shall not apply to this Act. 9 Sec. 19. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Act or the 10 application thereof to any person is invalid, the invalidity 11 shall not affect the provisions or application of this Act 12 which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or 13 application and to this end, the provisions of this Act are 14 severable. 15 Sec. 20. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect January 1, 16 2014, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. 17 EXPLANATION 18 This bill amends the Iowa criminal code to provide for 19 punishment by death for murder in the first degree, kidnapping, 20 and sexual abuse committed with respect to the same victim 21 who is a minor if the trial jury, or the judge if there 22 is no jury, makes specific findings and whether the jury 23 believes the defendant should be put to death in a separate 24 penalty proceeding held after the close of the initial trial 25 proceeding. Under the bill, a death sentence could be imposed 26 if the murder would constitute murder in the first degree and 27 the state pleads and proves the defendant also kidnapped and 28 committed sexual abuse against the murder victim who was a 29 minor. 30 If a person is indigent and is charged with capital murder, 31 payment of costs for two attorneys is authorized. The supreme 32 court is required to establish standards for the competency of 33 counsel in death penalty cases. The state public defender is 34 charged with establishing teams of qualified lead and cocounsel 35 -20- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 20/ 23
S.F. 167 for death penalty cases, as well as conducting or sponsoring 1 specialized training programs for attorneys representing 2 persons who may be executed. 3 If such a case proceeds to trial and a notice of intent to 4 seek the death penalty has been filed, in addition to any other 5 defenses which may be presented to the charge, the defendant 6 may raise the issue of intellectual disability during the time 7 of filing pretrial motions, and the defendant is entitled to 8 a rebuttable presumption of intellectual disability if the 9 defendant establishes that the defendant has an intelligence 10 quotient of 70 or below. 11 Once the evidence is submitted to the jury, the court 12 will instruct the jury, at the defendant’s request, that in 13 considering whether a sentence of death is justified, the 14 race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, or sex of 15 the defendant or of any victim is not to be considered. The 16 supreme court shall collect evidence relating to whether the 17 death sentences imposed are excessive, disproportionate, or 18 imposed under the influence of prejudice at trial which will be 19 available to litigants. 20 The sentence of death is imposed only when the trier of fact 21 (the jury or the court if the defendant has waived the right to 22 a jury trial) unanimously answers two questions affirmatively: 23 (1) whether aggravating circumstances established beyond a 24 reasonable doubt outweigh any mitigating circumstances that 25 may exist; and (2) whether the defendant should be sentenced 26 to death. Mitigating factors the trier of fact may consider 27 include the following: the defendant was under the influence 28 of an extreme mental or emotional disturbance; the age of 29 the defendant; the defendant’s ability to appreciate the 30 wrongfulness of the conduct due to mental disease but not 31 to a degree to constitute a defense; the defendant has no 32 significant prior criminal history; the defendant was under 33 extreme duress; the defendant did not directly commit the 34 murder, kidnapping, and sexual abuse; and the defendant’s 35 -21- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 21/ 23
S.F. 167 character or record or the circumstances of the offense. The 1 sentencing proceeding is conducted separately from the finding 2 of guilt or innocence by the same trier of fact. 3 For the sentencing proceeding, the trier of fact (the jury 4 or the court if the defendant has waived the right to have 5 the jury hear the proceedings) is to weigh any aggravating 6 circumstances established beyond a reasonable doubt by the 7 state against any of the enumerated mitigating circumstances 8 which may be presented by the defendant. Evidence of certain 9 juvenile delinquency adjudications is not admissible in any 10 proceeding to determine the sentence. If the jury fails to 11 agree unanimously on the required affirmative findings, the 12 penalty would be life imprisonment. 13 The death penalty sentence would be reviewed automatically 14 by the supreme court. The supreme court shall review the trial 15 and judgment separately from the sentencing proceeding. If the 16 supreme court finds error in the sentencing proceeding, the 17 supreme court may remand the case back to district court for a 18 new sentencing hearing. The bill requires the supreme court to 19 examine whether the sentence is excessive or disproportionate 20 to penalties in similar cases. If affirmed by the supreme 21 court, the penalty would be accomplished by lethal injection. 22 The bill requires the board of corrections to adopt rules 23 pertaining to executions, including rules pertaining to the 24 witnessing of executions. 25 The bill further provides that in order to receive a sentence 26 of death, the defendant must be at least 18 years of age at 27 the time the offense is committed, must not be mentally ill or 28 intellectually disabled, and must have been a major participant 29 in the commission of the crime or must have shown a manifest 30 indifference to human life. 31 A person who is sentenced to death, but who is pregnant when 32 the warrant of execution is issued, is not to be executed until 33 the person is no longer pregnant. A procedure is also provided 34 to stay execution of a condemned inmate who becomes insane 35 -22- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 22/ 23
S.F. 167 after conviction but before execution. 1 An employee of the state shall not be required to perform or 2 assist in any execution and shall not be discriminated against 3 for refusing to participate. 4 The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code 5 section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, 6 subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from 7 complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of 8 the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, 9 political subdivisions are required to comply with any state 10 mandate included in the bill. 11 The bill contains severability provisions and takes effect 12 January 1, 2014, and applies only to offenses committed on or 13 after that date. 14 -23- LSB 1697XS (5) 85 jm/rj 23/ 23