Utah's Republican-dominated Legislature is set to cast a final vote this week on a proposal to abolish capital punishment.
The measure is a surprise turnaround in the conservative state, where a year ago lawmakers voted to reinstate the use of firing squads in executions when lethal drugs aren't available.
Some conservative lawmakers say they support abolishment because those on death row spend years appealing their sentences and there's a chance governments could execute someone who was wrongly convicted.
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The proposal will face a final vote before Utah's House of Representatives on Wednesday or Thursday. If approved, it heads to Gov. Gary Herbert's desk.
Herbert, a Republican, won't say if he'd veto the measure should lawmakers approve it.