§ 15-18-86 — Procedure When Condemned Female Believed Pregnant

(a) If there is reason to believe that a female convict is pregnant, the sheriff must, with the concurrence of a judge of the circuit court, summon a jury of six disinterested persons, as many of whom must be physicians as practicable. The sheriff must also give notice to the district attorney or, in his absence, to any attorney who may be appointed by a circuit judge to represent the state and who has authority to issue subpoenas for witnesses.
(b) The jury, under the direction of the sheriff or officer acting in his place, must proceed to ascertain the fact of pregnancy and must state their conclusion in writing, signed by them and the sheriff. If such jury is of opinion, and so find, that the convict is with child, the sheriff or officer acting in his place must suspend the execution of the sentence and transmit the finding of the jury to the Governor.
(c) Whenever the Governor is satisfied that such convict is no longer with child, he must issue his warrant to the sheriff appointing a day for her to be executed according to her sentence, and the sheriff or other officer must execute the sentence of the law on the day so appointed.

Legislative History

(Code 1852, §§374-377; Code 1867, §§3922-3925; Code 1876, §§4620-4623; Code 1886, §§4670-4673; Code 1896, §§5435-5438; Code 1907, §§7644-7647; Code 1923, §§5300-5303; Code 1940, T. 15, §§353-356.)