|
|
News
Supreme Court News Resources
Supreme Court News Stories Archive from 2011
- About
Broken Links
- Eyewitness Identification Comes Under Supreme Court and Scientific Scrutiny
The U.S. Supreme Court recently considered Perry v. New Hampshire, a case questioning the validity of eyewitness testimony when the identification was made under unreliable circumstances. At the same time, years of scientific study on the accuracy of human memory are pointing to the need for reform in the use of eyewitness evidence in criminal cases. (12/12/11,
DPIC Update)
- Justice Breyer Points to Constitutional Problems of Time on Death Row
For some Supreme Court Justices and international courts, the extensive time that many inmates spend on U.S. death rows has raised concerns about cruel and unusual punishment. In a recent dissent regarding the execution of Manuel Valle in Florida, Justice Stephen Breyer argued that Valle should not be executed because the 33 years he already spent on death row amounted to a violation of the Eighth Amendment.
(11/7/11, DPIC Update)
- Court Restores Death Sentence Despite Questionable Representation
On April 4, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the opinions of two lower federal courts that had granted a new sentencing hearing to Scott Pinholster, who is on death row in California. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit had held that Pinholster's attorneys provided inadequate representation in not investigating evidence of severe brain damage. (4/11/11, DPIC Update)
- Court Erases Award for Exonerated Death Row Inmate
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed (5-4) a judgment of $14 million against the District Attorney's Office of New Orleans for withholding evidence in the case of John Thompson. Thompson had been convicted and sentenced to death but was later exonerated after the withheld evidence, casting serious doubt about his guilt, was revealed through the work of a private investigator. Thompson spent 18 years in prison including 14 years on death row, and faced imminent execution several times. He sued the D.A.'s office for violation of his constitutional rights.
(4/11/11, DPIC Update)
- Court Rejects "Actual Innocence" Appeal from Troy Davis
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a condemned Georgia inmate's request that his execution be delayed as he attempts to prove his "actual innocence." The justices without comment on Monday turned aside two separate appeals from Troy Davis, likely setting the stage for the state to set another execution date.
(3/28/11, CNN.com)
- Court to Hear Case of Man Facing Execution Because of Mailroom Mixup
On March 21, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from death-row inmate Cory Maples, who is facing execution because of a missed filing deadline in his state appeal.
(3/28/11, DPIC Update)
- Supreme Court says Texas Inmate Has Right to DNA Testing
The Supreme Court has given another legal reprieve to a Texas death row inmate who says DNA testing of crime scene evidence will prove his "actual innocence." The justices by a 6-3 vote on Monday said Henry "Hank" Skinner has a basic civil right to press for analysis of biological evidence not tested at the time of his trial. It was unclear how the narrow ruling will apply to similar legal challenges.
(3/7/11, CNN.com)
- Misunderstandings by Jurors Undermines Constitutionality of Death Penalty
A new study by William Bowers and others published in the Criminal Law Bulletin revealed that most jurors in death penalty cases lack sufficient understanding of their duties, rendering the process unconstitutional by Supreme Court standards.
(2/14/11, DPIC Update)
- Court Declines to Take Case of Federal
Death Row Inmate With Mental Retardation
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear
the appeal of Bruce Webster, an inmate on
the federal death row with evidence that
he is intellectually disabed. ... In April,
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
ruled that Webster had exhausted his appeals
and his recent evidence of intellectual disability
could not be considered, even though it would
bar his execution if allowed in.
(12/13/10, DPIC Update)
- Court Considers Prosecutorial Immunity
for Withholding Evidence in Death Penalty
Case
On October 6, the U.S. Supreme Court heard
arguments in Connick v. Thompson. John Thompson,
who was released from death row in 2003 after
newly discovered evidence undermined his
murder conviction, sued the New Orleans District
Attorney’s office for failing to train
its attorneys about their legal obligation
to turn over evidence that could help defendants
prove their innocence.
(10/11/10, DPIC Update)
- Retired Supreme Court Justice Regrets
1976 Vote Upholding the Death Penalty
In a recent interview on NPR, newly-retired
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens
said he particularly regretted one vote
during his 35 years on the high court--his
1976 vote to uphold the death penalty in
Gregg v. Georgia. (10/11/10, DPIC Update)
- Arguments Set in Three Death Penalty
Cases in the Coming Term
The U.S. Supreme Court has set oral-argument
dates in three death penalty-related cases
for the upcoming 2010-2011 term. The Court
begins its new term on Monday, October
4. On October 6, the Court will hear Connick
v. Thompson. This case challenges an award
of $14 million to John Thompson, who had
been sentenced to death in New Orleans
but was later acquitted of all charges.
... On October 13, the Court will hear
Skinner v. Switzer to determine whether
a Texas death row inmate's (Hank Skinner)
request for DNA testing can be considered
as a civil rights claim rather than as
part of his death penalty appeal. ... Finally,
on November 9, the high court will hear
Cullen v. Pinholster, reviewing a Ninth
Circuit decision overturning Pinholster's
death sentence because of ineffectiveness
of counsel. (9/14/10, DPIC Update)
News | National
News | World
News | News
Commentary
|
|
|
|
|