Austin News

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has reintroduced Eric’s Law, a legislative proposal that would enable prosecutors to form a new sentencing jury if the original jury cannot reach a unanimous decision in capital cases. This move aims to address situations where victims' families are left without closure due to deadlocked juries.

Senator Cruz explained the motivation behind the bill, stating, “Eric Williams was a dedicated federal officer who was murdered in the line of duty. His killer was not punished for the crime because the killer was already serving a life prison sentence and a single jury member would not vote for the death penalty, leaving Eric’s family in limbo. Honoring his legacy requires creating a justice system that never does so again to any family. Eric’s Law empowers federal prosecutors to impanel a second sentencing jury when the first panel fails to reach a unanimous verdict in capital cases, ensuring that every victim’s family receives the justice they deserve.”

The legislation is named after Eric Williams, a federal correctional officer who was killed by an inmate at the U.S. Penitentiary in Canaan, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in 2013. At that time, the perpetrator was already serving a life sentence for murder. Although found guilty of Officer Williams's murder, no additional punishment was imposed due to one juror's refusal to support a death penalty verdict.

Eric’s Law proposes giving prosecutors the option—not obligation—to convene another jury under these circumstances. The proposed law takes inspiration from similar statutes already enacted in California and Arizona.

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