Lawmaker wants death penalty for certain murders involving children

The Indianapolis Star reports that Representative Terry Goodin will introduce a bill to require prosecutors to seek the death penalty in certain child murders.

This is a feel good piece of legislation that would cause problems for prosecutors and county budgets all over the state. Death penalty trials are expensive and to require a prosecutor to seek the death penalty could impose a financial burden that some smaller counties cannot handle. It speaks volumes that both the Indiana Prosecuting Attorney's Council and Public Defender Council are against the legislation. The article reports that the bill passed the House last year but was not picked up by the Senate.