Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' pitch to speed...

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' pitch to speed up death penalty trials passed the Senate Judiciary Committee, despite strong objections from opponents who warned it could backfire and cost taxpayers millions.
The bill, SB1286, which spells out the proposed rights of crime victims, also calls for capital punishment trials to start 18 months after a defendant makes a first appearance in court.
The measure, which was written by Thomas and sponsored by Sen. Chuck Gray, R Mesa, passed along party lines with four Republicans voting in favour and three Democrats opposed.
Supporters of the plan argue that the family members of victims have as much of a right to a speedy trial as defendants. But under the current system, defendants can also delay the start of a trial with numerous legal tactics.
Opponents caution that rushing a case to court could open legal loopholes and result in the reversal of convictions when appealed to higher courts.
That, detractors warn, could cost taxpayers millions of dollars because defendants must go through a 2nd trial or sentencing hearing.