Title: Comparing the Costs of Death Penalty vs. Life in Prison
Headings: 
US Economy GDP Growth & Recessions
What Criminal Sentence Costs More: Death or Life in Prison?
It takes a lot of time and money to carry out the ultimate penalty
Key Takeaways
Death Penalty Background
Cost of Death Penalty Trials and Appeals
Cost of Incarceration on Death Row
Cost of Execution
Highlights and Additional Costs
Article Sources

Content: Cost of Death Penalty Trials and Appeals
The jury selection process for a capital case is more complex than for a non-capital case. Each juror must be able to consider the evidence and render the death sentence if warranted. The trial proceeds as it normally would but is longer because of the amount of evidence that is introduced. Such factors include: Potential mental impairments of the defendant
Past criminal and social history
Whether one or more people were murdered
Whether it was done in a cruel manner
Another reason for the overall additional cost is that capital trials automatically receive an appeal at the state appellate courts. However, before an appeal is filed, many defendants issue a motion for a new trial, delaying things further. If the appellate court upholds the death penalty, then the case goes to the state Supreme Court. If neither overturns the sentence, it automatically goes to a federal judge for yet another review. Some defense attorneys petition the U.S. Supreme Court as a last resort. If all the courts uphold the conviction, the defendant can ask the state's governor or even the U.S. President for clemency.