In Richmond, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee...

In Richmond, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee committee killed legislation that would have allowed Virginians to register their opposition to the death penalty with a registry maintained by the Virginia Supreme Court. Sen. Warren E. Barry's bill said that should those registered be murdered, their killers would be ineligible for execution. However, the death penalty opponent would have to turn over his or her estate to the Virginia Board of Corrections to defray the cost of the killer's imprisonment. The Committee unanimously rejected the bill.
"That's the 1st time I've ever gotten a unanimous vote out of that committee," said Barry, R-Fairfax. The Committee also voted 10-4 against reporting a bill by Sen. Henry Marsh, D-Richmond, to establish a moratorium on executions in Virginia, pending additional study of its imposition.