a defendant in Georgia could be sentenced to die even...

a defendant in Georgia could be sentenced to die even if up to three members of the jury in the case voted against the death penalty, under a bill (HB185) that cleared a hurdle in the lawmaking process at the state capitol. A panel of the House judiciary committee voted 7-1 for a plan that would let judges consider a death sentence if a jury was split 9-3 or better in favor of it. Current state law requires a unanimous vote by 12 jurors for the death penalty to be handed out. The bill is sponsored by House Majority Whip Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, and backed by the House's Republican leadership. The bill must now clear the House's full judiciary committee before it would be voted on in the House. If approved, it would then move to the Senate, which would begin the process anew with 13 days remaining in this year's legislative session.