John Rogers on Crime Alabama Senate

For automatic death penalty for cop killers without appeal

Rogers lamented how long those individuals on death row can stave off their executions through appeal after appeal after appeal. He argued that individuals should not be allowed to appeal after being duly tried and convicted of the capital murder of a law enforcement officer.

No chemical castration for sex offenses against children

Other states have passed similar laws, including California and Florida in the 1990s. The Alabama chemical castration law says sex offenders will have to take "medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment or its chemical equivalent, that, among other things, reduces, inhibits, or blocks the production of testosterone, hormones, or other chemicals in a person's body." The law requires the treatment to begin at least one month before a parolee is released.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 27-0-8 on roll call #1423 on May 30; passed House 72-16-16 on roll call #831 on May 21; Rep. Rogers voted PRESENT (which OnTheIssues interprets as NAY in this context); signed by Gov. Ivey on June 10.

No separate sentencing trial in capital cases

OnTheIssues summary: This bill changes the rules for sentencing in capital cases when choosing death versus life imprisonment. The previous rules had a jury trial with an advisory verdict of life or death, and then a separate sentencing trial, where the judge could override the jury's sentence. The new rules allow the defendant to choose a jury trial or a non-jury (judge-based) trial. In either case, the verdict is final.

ACLU opinion: This new law prevents judges from overriding the will of the community by imposing the death penalty when a jury has recommended life imprisonment. While we applaud this change, Alabama is still the only state that does not require a unanimous jury for the death penalty.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 78-19-2 in roll call #362 on April 16; Rep. Rogers voted YES; passed Senate 23-5-0 in roll call #111 on Feb. 23; signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on April 4.