Justices put Oklahoma man’s execution on hold

Justices put Oklahoma man’s execution on hold

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The Supreme Court put the execution of Richard Glossip on hold on Friday afternoon to give the justices time to consider the Oklahoma man’s appeals. Glossip was scheduled to be executed on May 18. The court’s brief unsigned order came four days after Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a highly unusual brief supporting Glossip’s request to stay his execution. Drummond explained that state officials now believe that Glossip’s conviction should not stand and that it would be “unthinkable” … Read the rest

Colorado man’s First Amendment challenge will test the scope of protection for threatening speech

Colorado man’s First Amendment challenge will test the scope of protection for threatening speech

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There is no dispute that the Facebook messages Billy Raymond Counterman sent to local Colorado musician Coles Whalen made her feel afraid. For years, Counterman sent increasingly menacing messages in which he suggested that he had seen Whalen – who is identified only by her initials in court documents, but who has discussed the case on her website – while driving and made comments such as “Die” and “Fuck off permanently.” Whalen told a family member that she was

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Jackson dissents in denial of Louisiana man’s death-row evidence plea

Jackson dissents in denial of Louisiana man’s death-row evidence plea

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Over a dissent from the court’s three liberal justices, the Supreme Court turned down a request from a Louisiana man on death-row to weigh in on when someone else’s confession is the kind of evidence that the Constitution requires prosecutors to turn over. The court’s denial of review in Brown v. Louisiana came at the end of a list of orders from the justices’ private conference last week.

The justices did not add any new cases to their docket … Read the rest

Justices revive Texas man’s bid to throw out conviction that state prosecutors no longer defend

Justices revive Texas man’s bid to throw out conviction that state prosecutors no longer defend

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The Supreme Court on Monday revived efforts by a Texas inmate to throw out his conviction and death sentence in a case in which prosecutors agree that he should get a new trial. The ruling in favor of Areli Escobar came on a list of orders released from the justices’ private conference last week. The justices did not grant any new cases, but they called for the Biden administration’s views in three cases and denied review in over 300 … Read the rest