House Votes to Allow Data On Race in Death Appeals

WASHINGTON The House on Wednesday voted narrowly to make itsignificantly easier for defendants convicted of capital crimes tochallenge death sentences as racially biased.

The bill's language would allow inmates on Death Row to usestatistics on racial disparity to challenge their sentences. In viewof the fact that implementation of capital punishment laws arelargely the province of state legislatures and state courts,Congress' authority to do this is uncertain.

The bill, as it stands, would apply to current Death Rowinmates, but House Judiciary Chairman Jack Brooks (D-Texas) promisedto drop the retroactive provision in an upcoming conference with …