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Senate advances hate‑crimes sentencing bill after debate citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent
Summary
On Feb. 14, 2000 the Utah Senate debated and moved forward a hate‑crimes enhancement bill after senators cited the U.S. Supreme Court's Wisconsin v. Mitchell to draw a legal line between punishing belief and punishing conduct motivated by bias.
The Utah State Senate on Feb. 14, 2000 advanced a hate‑crimes enhancement bill after floor debate over constitutional limits of punishing motive. Senators cited a 1993 U.S. Supreme Court decision to justify treating motive as a sentencing factor rather than criminalizing belief.
Senator (speaker 9) told the Senate the Wisconsin v. Mitchell decision supported the idea that "the state may not punish one's beliefs, but may consider the…
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