Orrin Hatch: “Yes. Anyone with knowledge of capital cases--not just someone who has litigated capital cases--can now serve on the…”

“Yes. Anyone with knowledge of capital cases--not just someone who has litigated capital cases--can now serve on the entity. Most importantly, this includes members of the bench. It could also include law professors with knowledge of capital cases, or, as you mentioned, even advocates for crime victims--if they have a demonstrated familiarity with the death penalty. The interests of victims too often are left out in our justice system--I am pleased to see that we have now changed this bill to ensure that someone who has experience in guiding crime victims through a capital trial would be eligible to sit at the table of this important new capital-counsel entity. I think that such an entity certainly could benefit from diverse perspectives on the criminal-justice system.”