COLORADO (USA): LEGISLATURE VOTES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY

The Colorado legislature has sent to the Governor a bill that would prospectively abolish the state’s death penalty. On 26 February 2020, one day after a marathon 12-hour debate on the floor of the House, the Colorado House of Representatives voted 38-27 to pass SB 20-100 to repeal the state’s capital punishment statute. The Senate had previously approved the legislation on 30 January. Governor Jared Polis has ten days to sign the bill into law or to veto it. The Governor has previously indicated that will sign. Upon signing, Colorado would become the 22nd state to abolish capital punishment, and the tenth since 2004.