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Lucasville Today
By the People, for the People
DOJ Proposes Rule to Reduce Time Between Capital Conviction and Execution
Attorney General Pam Bondi says the proposal is the next step in the administration's policy to faithfully enforce capital punishment laws.
Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:18am
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The Trump administration is proposing a new rule to streamline the federal review of capital cases, which the Justice Department says will reduce the time between conviction and execution in death penalty cases. The proposed rule aims to restore an expedited review process that was implemented in 1996 and amended in 2006, but which previous administrations had made more difficult to use.
Why it matters
The proposed rule is part of the Trump administration's broader push to restore and expand the use of capital punishment at the federal level, including by lifting a moratorium on federal executions put in place by the previous Biden administration.
The details
The proposed rule would remove obstacles that have prevented states from using the streamlined federal habeas review process for capital cases, and would make certification decisions final rather than subject to a five-year limited term. The DOJ says this should encourage more states to apply for certification, which would allow for faster decisions in capital cases.
- The Trump administration issued an executive order on January 20 calling for the enforcement of laws authorizing capital punishment.
- In December 2024, the Biden administration commuted the death sentences of 37 federal death row prisoners.
- On February 5, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum outlining plans to implement Trump's executive order on the death penalty.
The players
Pam Bondi
The Attorney General who announced the proposed rule and stated it is the next step in the administration's policy to faithfully enforce capital punishment laws.
Donald Trump
The former president who issued an executive order in January 2020 calling for the enforcement of laws authorizing capital punishment, including ordering federal law enforcement to cooperate with state and local officials in cases that may implicate federal law.
Joe Biden
The former president who had imposed a moratorium on federal executions, which resulted in the commutation of death sentences for 37 federal death row prisoners in December 2024.
What they’re saying
“This proposed rule will help states achieve the promise of swift and effective justice for victims of capital crimes. We are fulfilling the Department of Justice's commitment to restoring the death penalty as the ultimate punishment for the worst criminals in America.”
— Pam Bondi, Attorney General
What’s next
The proposed rule will now go through a public comment period before the DOJ can finalize and implement it.
The takeaway
The Trump administration is taking aggressive steps to expand the use of capital punishment at the federal level, including by streamlining the review process for death penalty cases, in an effort to fulfill its commitment to enforcing laws that authorize the death penalty.
