Legislative briefs for May 2, 2003

Friday, May 2, 2003 | 10:08 a.m.

Death penalty bill approved by Senate

A bill giving court-appointed defense attorneys more money to handle death penalty cases -- one of a package of bills to change Nevada's capital punishment laws -- has been approved by the state Senate.

Assembly Bill 17, which goes to Gov. Kenny Guinn for his signature, will raise the rate paid court-appointed defense attorneys in death penalty cases to $125 per hour. The present rate is $75.

The maximum fee allowed would be $20,000, up from the present $12,000.

Court-appointed attorneys in other criminal cases would be paid $100 per hour, up from the present $75.

The bill, passed Thursday, also requires that courts appoint a team of lawyers, not just one, to represent defendants in death penalty cases. There must be two attorneys and "any other person as deemed necessary by the court," to conduct the defense.

The fees to pay investigators for the defense also rise from $300 to $500.

It was one of a number of bills recommended by the Legislative Committee to Study the Death Penalty and Related DNA Testing. Other bill still being considered in the Legislature include banning capital punishment for the mentally retarded and for those under 18-years old and giving defense lawyers the right to argue last in the penalty phase of death penalty cases.

Sunday courts measure signed

Gov. Kenny Guinn Thursday signed a bill to allow district courts to handle domestic violence cases on Sunday and holidays.

Senate Bill 87 will now permit a district judge to receive a telephone call asking for a temporary order in a domestic violence case.

The law becomes effective immediately. The present law limits what business a district court can conduct on Sundays and holidays. This will be a new exception to the prohibition.