U.S. Supreme Court to consider Troy Davis case
June 25, 2009 at 8:07 am by Mara Shalhoup in News
According to a story on Savannah’s WTOC.com, the country’s highest court will decide — perhaps as soon as tomorrow on Monday, June 29 — whether it will hear the case of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, whose execution has been delayed three times based on claims of his innocence.
According to WTOC, the U.S. Supreme Court will have a conference today to decide whether to take Davis’ case. The story also states: “Davis’ sister, Martina Correia, says the Supreme Court could have a decision by Friday or Monday or it could be as late as this fall.”
Seven of nine trial witnesses who helped convict Davis in 1991 have since recanted their testimony. The courts have consistently ruled against considering the recantations and other new evidence that suggest Davis might not have killed Savannah police officer Mark Allen MacPhail.
The U.S. Supreme Court delayed one of Davis’ execution dates, but ultimately declined to hear the case. The latest appeal is based on a different legal claim.
More to come …
UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court is considering an unusual — and longshot — habeas corpus petition filed directly to that court. According to June 19 story on Savannah’s WSAV.com:
Davis’s lawyers have filed a habeas petition before the U.S. Supreme Court, but many assume that because of past rejections by the high court, that Davis’s last option may be a new trial at the local level.
Also, check out this L.A. Times story on Davis from earlier this month for some of the political complexities surrounding the case.
(Photo courtesy Georgia Department of Corrections)
June 25th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I wouldn’t be too optimistic about the likelihood they will hear the case. The Supreme Court is deciding whether to hear an original habeas corpus petition filed directly in their court. The last time the Supreme Court granted one of these original habeas petitions was 1925. (However, in rare instances they have remanded cases back to a district court for an evidentiary hearing.)
They also have to rule one way or the other on Davis’ petition this week or on Monday, because SCOTUS closes for the summer on June 30th.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:52 am
From Georgians For Alternatives to the Death Penalty -
Call DA Larry Chisolm! If the Supreme Court chooses not to intervene, the Chatham County District Attorney will have to decide whether to pursue justice, or an execution warrant. Call his office at 912-652-7308 and let them know you would like the DA the re-open Troy’s case. If you live in Georgia or Chatham County, tell them you’re a concerned resident. But remember, you do NOT need to be a resident to take this action! Please spread this far and wide so the DA’s office knows Troy has national support.
Call 912-652-7308 and ask that Troy’s case be re-opened!
June 25th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I will never believe in the justice system again if they don’t give this man a chance. This is just plain wrong and dispicable. If they’ll kill an innocent man then we’re all in danger. It has been said many times, “injustice for one is an injustice for all.”