Georgia House Bill 123, proposed by state Rep. Bill Werkheiser, aims to reform the death penalty for intellectually disabled individuals in the state. The legislation received unanimous support in the Georgia House, passing 172-0.
The bill seeks to lower the burden of proof for intellectual disability from beyond a reasonable doubt to a preponderance of the evidence, aligning Georgia with 26 other states. Advocates argue that this change is necessary to prevent wrongful executions, highlighting the moral obligation to protect vulnerable individuals in the justice system.
The proposed legislation, also known as the “Intellectual Disability Reform Bill”, was passed on [insert date], with bipartisan support. This historic move aims to align Georgia with national standards and ensure justice for intellectually disabled defendants.
Source: ATL Newsroom