WASHINGTON (Saturday, Oct. 9) – Capping four years of effort by a bipartisan House and Senate coalition that includes both supporters and opponents of the death penalty, the U.S. Senate Saturday approved modest but rare reforms in the way the death penalty is used in the criminal justice system.

 The Justice For All Act includes elements of the Innocence Protection Act, first introduced four years ago by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in the Senate and later in the House by Reps. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Ray LaHood (R-Ill.).  The Justice For All Act is a package of DNA-related bills, sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and by Leahy, the ranking Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee.  Hatch is the panel’s chairman.

 The Senate Saturday passed the latest version of the package as passed Wednesday by the House, along with a concurrent resolution that makes technical changes in the bill before it is enrolled and sent to the President for his signature.  The House Saturday also passed the technical changes, clearing the bill to be sent to the President’s desk.

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