House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes the establishment of a Sentencing Review Panel for Non-unanimous Jury Convictions within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. This panel will consist of various legal professionals appointed by the governor, the attorney general, and the state public defender, and will be responsible for reviewing cases where non-unanimous jury verdicts were rendered prior to 2018. The panel's duties include determining if such convictions resulted in a miscarriage of justice, assessing eligibility for pardon or commutation of sentence, and notifying relevant authorities about the findings. The bill also expands eligibility for post-conviction relief for individuals convicted by non-unanimous jury verdicts that did not result in a miscarriage of justice but may warrant a new trial based on evidence.

The proposed law stipulates that the review panel must complete its evaluations within one year of the statute's effective date, and it outlines specific criteria for determining whether a miscarriage of justice occurred. Additionally, it mandates that any affirmative finding of a miscarriage of justice requires a favorable vote from at least seven panel members. The bill aims to ensure that individuals wrongfully convicted by non-unanimous jury verdicts have a pathway to seek justice and relief.