Federal Court Examining Constitutionality of Calif. Death Penalty

FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing arguments today, about whether the California death penalty is unconstitutional, because of excessive delays.

A federal judge has already ruled that the delays amount to cruel and unusual punishment.

More than 900 people have been sentenced to death in California since 1978, but only 13 have been executed.