Bill To End Death Penalty Advances At State Capitol

Police officers gather to remove activists during an anti death penalty protest in front of the US Supreme Court January 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP / Brendan Smialowski

A bill that would abolish the death penalty in Louisiana is advancing at the State Capitol.

The proposal from Democratic State Senator J.P. Morrell passed through a committee meeting Tuesday. Under the bill, capital punishment would be off the table for all new criminal cases starting this August.

Supporters say recent troubles with acquiring drugs used for lethal injection, and the court costs for death penalty cases are among the reasons to make the change.