I know that Cali itself has a mandatory waiting perios of two years for the first appeal. Is it the same federally or could an appeal be fast tracked?
VIRGINIA DEATH PENALTY INFORMATION
To be eligible in Virginia for the death penalty, a criminal must commit a murder under one or more special circumstances. These circumstances include robbery or attempted robbery; rape or attempted rape or sodomy, or attempted sodomy, or object sexual penetration; abduction with intent to extort money; the killing of a law enforcement officer; a multiple homicide; murder for hire; murder while incarcerated; murder of more than 1 person in a 3 year period; drug related; pregnant woman; murder victim is less than 14 by an over 21 year old perpetrator.Once a jury finds a person guilty of capital murder, it then holds a second trial to determine whether the crime was vile enough to warrant the death penalty and/or whether the person represents a future danger so great he must be executed.
A circuit judge then formally imposes the sentence. The conviction then enters the appeals stage, which involves a number of possibilities.
APPEALS PROCESS
Restrictions: Virginia law sets these restrictions on the appeals process: [SEE LINK]