DOVER, Del. (AP) - A House committee is set to hold a pivotal hearing on legislation to abolish Delaware's death penalty.
The bill narrowly cleared the Senate last month. The chief House sponsor of the bill, however, concedes that he probably doesn't have enough votes in the judiciary committee to send the bill to the House floor.
Democratic Rep. Sean Lynn of Dover says he plans to take the politically risky option of trying to suspend rules and bring the bill straight to the floor.
The legislation removes execution as a possible punishment for first-degree murder, leaving life in prison without the possibility of parole as the only sentence. But it would not affect the 15 inmates already on death row.
Democratic Gov. Jack Markell said last week that he supports the bill.
