Senate Bill No. 218, introduced by Senator Duplessis, aims to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide specific provisions for post-conviction relief for defendants convicted by a non-unanimous jury verdict. The bill adds a new ground for relief under Article 930.3, stating that a conviction obtained by a non-unanimous jury verdict is a valid basis for seeking post-conviction relief. Additionally, it modifies Article 930.4 to clarify that applications alleging such convictions will not be considered repetitive and will not be barred by existing provisions. This change allows defendants to seek relief without the limitations typically imposed on repetitive applications.

Furthermore, the bill amends Article 930.8 to include an exception to the two-year time limitation for filing post-conviction relief applications, allowing those convicted by a non-unanimous jury verdict to file beyond this period. The amendments ensure that the limitations set forth in the law are jurisdictional and cannot be waived, except for cases involving non-unanimous jury verdicts. The proposed changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2025, and aim to address the legal implications of non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana.