With 102 days until court deadline, Pa. advocates criticize delay on felony murder bill vote

With 102 days until court deadline, Pa. advocates criticize delay on felony murder bill vote

House Judiciary Committee Chair Tim Briggs and Minority Chair Rob Kauffman at a hearing on April 9, 2026. (Photo by Ian Karbal/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)Last month, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court gave lawmakers 120 days to find a legislative solution after ruling mandatory life sentences for second degree murder charges are unconstitutional under the state’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. The ruling is likely to kick off what coul…

Justice Delayed: Joint Statement on the Postponed Vote on PA House Bill 443

We are deeply disappointed that on Thursday, April 9, Democratic leadership in the PA House postponed a vote to move vital legislation, House Bill 443, out of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee and to a full floor vote. HB 443, which has 43 cosponsors, would abolish the sentence of life without parole – better known as death by incarceration – for second degree murder. On March 26, 2026, the PA Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life wit…