USA - North Carolina. Governor Beverly Perdue signed the Racial Justice Act into law

Beverly Perdue signed the Racial Justice Act into law, making North Carolina only the second state in the country to allow death row prisoners to meaningfully challenge their death sentences if racial bias is evident. (Kentucky is the only other state that has adopted similar provisions.) On July 15th the North Carolina House voted 61-54 the bill. The Senate voted 25-18 in favor of the legislation that is primarily sponsored by Sen. Floyd McKissick (D-Durham). However, this does not mean a rush of previously sentenced-to-death inmates will be getting out of prison as a result of the RJA. The bill states quite clearly that anyone receiving relief from the Act will be re-sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. NC's last execution was in August 2006, and the number of death penalties awarded to prosecutors since that time is infinitesimal. Only 1 defendant was sent to death row last year in the state. Death row defendants would have one year to file their claim after conviction, under the RLA.