[nicmarlo]

I don't know the particulars with U.S. District Court appeals....however, I think it's the Virginia U.S. District Court...and there's some answers they have regarding appeals:

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]

[BlueStateDepression]

Thanks for the info. Great information.