The House Criminal Justice Committee approves a constitutional amendment that calls for all 12 members of a criminal jury to agree on the guilt or innocence of an accused person. Current law only requires 10. The debate digressed to a racial issue when an opponent, Calcasieu D.A. John Derosier, brushed off the notion that unanimous juries were racially driven.
The comment ignited a fiery back and forth with committee member Ted James.
But the bill’s author, New Orleans Senator J.P. Morrell, cited 180 year old documents to make his point why convictions in felony should be unanimous…
Cut 8 (:13) “official journal”
Louisiana and Oregon are the only two states without Unanimous jury requirements. The Senate has already approved the proposal and it will need a two-thirds vote on the House floor.
A Senate-approved bestiality bill that’s been grabbing headlines passed unanimously through a House committee. The bill would update bestiality laws, and codify them as only applying to acts between man and animal. Some opponents argue the bill is an attempt to protect homosexual behavior. The bill’s sponsor, New Orleans Senator JP Morrell.
The state legislature is not willing to give voters in Tangipahoa Parish the opportunity to vote on whether they want a riverboat casino at a location near I-12. Ponchatoula Representative Steve Pugh moved to table the bill, because there’s opposition from local senators…