A bill to allow a prisoner under sentence of death to obtain judicial review of newly discovered evidence showing that he is probably innocent.

Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-468.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 27, 1993

Amends the Federal judicial code to require a district court to issue an appropriate writ or relief on behalf of an applicant under sentence of death, imposed in either Federal or State court, who establishes that he is probably innocent of the offense for which the death sentence was imposed. Provides for a stay of execution pending a court's disposition of an application filed under this Act.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Metzenbaum, Howard M. [D-OH] · D–OH

Committees

Judiciary Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 1, 1993
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 103-468.
Jan 27, 1993
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jan 27, 1993
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S775-776)
Jan 27, 1993
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jan 27, 1993 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.221 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.221, 103rd Congress: A bill to allow a prisoner under sentence of death to obtain judicial review of newly discovered evidence showing that he is probably innocent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/221

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s221/BILLS-103s221is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.221 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.221 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.221, 103rd Congress: A bill to allow a prisoner under sentence of death to obtain judicial review of newly discovered evidence showing that he is probably innocent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/221

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s221/BILLS-103s221is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.221 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.221 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.221, 103rd Congress: A bill to allow a prisoner under sentence of death to obtain judicial review of newly discovered evidence showing that he is probably innocent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/221

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s221/BILLS-103s221is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.221 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.221 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.221, 103rd Congress: A bill to allow a prisoner under sentence of death to obtain judicial review of newly discovered evidence showing that he is probably innocent.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/221

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/s221/BILLS-103s221is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.221 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.