Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Under NC Racial Bias Law

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal Under NC Racial Bias Law

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Oct 3, 2016, 9:49 AM ET

The Supreme Court will not hear an appeal from four former death row inmates in North Carolina who claimed systemic racial bias contributed to their death sentences.

The justices said Monday they will not disturb a state Supreme Court ruling that could result in new death sentences for the three African-American and one Native American inmates.

They were among defendants whose sentences were cut from death to life in prison under the state's unique Racial Justice Act.

The law allowed prisoners on death row and defendants in capital cases to use statistics to prove racial bias. The law has since been repealed.

But appeals filed under the law have essentially halted executions in North Carolina, where no one has been executed in more than 10 years.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/supreme-court-rejects-appeal-nc-racial-bias-law-42530650

[HassleCat]

1. This should be a Democratic policy priority.

I am embarrassed that my party lacks the courage to come out against the death penalty. I don't care if executing people enjoys popular support. Slavery once enjoyed popular support. Prosecuting people for being gay once enjoyed popular support. Time for Democrats to stand up and act like Democrats on this issue.