Inmates sue over execution protocol 
Published: February 13, 2012
Tags: Arizona, civil rights, death penalty
Three inmates on Arizona’s death row have sued the governor, the state corrections director and those who conduct executions, arguing that a new execution protocol violates their constitutional rights.
Supremes overturn murder convictions under ‘Brady’
Published: January 10, 2012
Tags: Brady v. Maryland, death penalty, eyewitness testimony
Prosecutors’ failure to disclose evidence undermining the testimony of a key eyewitness required the reversal of a defendant’s capital murder convictions, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in an 8-1 decision.
Texas judge says death penalty unconstitutional
By:
Pat Murphy
Published: March 8, 2010
Tags: death penalty
A Texas judge in the county that sends more inmates to death row than any other in the nation is apparently taking a stand. Saying he could assume that innocent people have been executed, state District Judge Kevin Fine ruled in a pre-trial motion in a capital murder case on Thursday that the death penalty was unconstitutional and found himself on Friday facing a torrent of criticism from a string of high-profile Texans including Gov. Rick Perry.
Supreme Court decides ineffective assistance claim
By:
Pat Murphy
Published: January 20, 2010
Tags: death penalty, habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel
Defense counsel in a death penalty case could be deemed to have acted competently even though they decided not to pursue or present evidence of their client’s mental deficiencies, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a 7-2 decision.
DEATH PENALTY
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: January 19, 2010
Tags: death penalty
A Court of Appeals did not carefully review facts about juror and judicial impropriety in considering constitutional claims by a man sentenced to death.
U.S. Supreme Court. Wellons v. Hall, No. 09-5731. Jan. 19, 2010. Lawyers USA No. 993-1702.
Justices turn down challenge to jury’s use of Bible
By:
Susan Bocamazo
Published: May 11, 2009
Tags: death penalty
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a challenge from a Texas death row inmate who claimed his constitutional rights were violated by jurors who consulted a Bible.
HABEAS CORPUS
By:
Justin Rebello
Published: March 31, 2009
Tags: antiterrorism, death penalty, habeas corpus
Did the 6th Circuit contravene the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 by improperly extending Mills v. Maryland?
U.S. Supreme Court. Smith v. Spisak, No. 08-724. Certiorari granted Feb. 23, 2009. Ruling below: 465 F.3d 684 (6th Cir. 2006).
RIGHT TO COUNSEL
By:
Reni Gertner
Published: June 23, 2008
Tags: death penalty, right to counsel
Do prisoners sentenced under state law have the right to federally-appointed and funded legal counsel to pursue clemency actions under the Terrorist Death Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005?
U.S. Supreme Court. Harbison v. Bell, No. 07-8521. Certiorari granted June 23, 2008. Ruling below: 503 F.3d 566 (6th Cir. 2007).
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