USA - North Carolina. State senators voted 31-19 to override the governor's veto of the “No Discriminatory Purpose in the Death Penalty”

North Carolina state senators voted 31-19  along party lines to override the governor's veto of  the “No Discriminatory Purpose in the Death Penalty”, a measure that would repeal the Racial Justice Act. The state's Racial Justice Act, which Governor Beverly Perdue signed into law in 2009, allows prisoners on death row to use statistical evidence to challenge their death sentences by showing that racial bias affected their sentencing. Democrats controlled the North Carolina legislature when the law passed in 2009, but Republicans now hold a majority in both chambers. With the support of the state's district attorneys, Republican lawmakers in November passed legislation effectively gutting the law. That drew a veto in December from the Democratic governor, who said the legislation amounted to an outright repeal. Perdue said it was unacceptable for prejudice to play a significant role in the application of the death penalty. To override a veto, the state Senate and House each must muster a 2/3 majority of members present. Republicans hold a veto-proof majority in the Senate but need the votes of at least four Democrats in the House to override a veto. (see also June 1 and Nov. 28, 2011).