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HR 3986 111th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal procedure and sentencing Evidence and witnesses Judicial review and appeals

Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act

Introduced: November 3, 2009 Introduced by: Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" Democratic · Georgia See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 4, 2010
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Nov 3, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 3, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H12208)
Nov 3, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act - Amends the federal judicial code to make federal habeas corpus relief available to a person sentenced to death if adjudication on the merits in state court proceedings of the claim cited in the writ application resulted in, or left in force, a death sentence imposed without consideration of newly discovered evidence which, in combination with the evidence presented at trial, demonstrates that the applicant is probably not guilty of the underlying offense.

Allows presentation of such a claim in a second or successive habeas corpus application.

Allows a second or successive court motion to vacate, set aside, or correct a death sentence based on such a claim.

What's happening now January 4, 2010

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 4
D
Waters, Maxine
California · Dec 1, 2009
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Nov 19, 2009
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Nov 3, 2009
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Nov 3, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3986: Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3986/
MLA
"H.R. 3986: Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3986/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3986, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3986/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3986: Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-3986/)
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