Turning aside international pleas for a new hearing on his claims of innocence, the Supreme Court this morning denied review of the case of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis. On Sept, 23, the high court stayed his execution at the eleventh hour, giving his advocates hope that the justices would order a new evidentiary hearing based on testimony that he was the victim of mistaken identity when he was convicted of murdering an off-duty Savannah police officer in 1989. But the justices instead sided with the state of Georgia, which argued that the innocence claims had already been scrutinized by state courts and did not rise to the state's standard for triggering a new trial. It is uncertain when his execution will be rescheduled.
Leaders from Desmond Tutu to Jimmy Carter had joined Davis's plea, and this morning reaction was swift from those advocating another look at his case. "Because seven witnesses changed their original testimony and six implicated another man since the conclusion of the trial, Mr. Davis deserves to have his claims of innocence fully evaluated," said Virginia Sloan, president of the Constitution Project, in a statement. "Instead, the courts have followed their procedures to this ultimate - and untimely - end. Justice should be more than a formality, and the Supreme Court should be more than a rubber stamp." The project has called for an end to procedural roadblocks that keep courts from reviewing claims like Davis's.
From Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA, also commented, “Faulty eyewitness identification is the leading cause of wrongful convictions, and the hallmark of Davis’ case. This was an opportunity for the Court to clarify the constitutionality of putting the innocent to death – and in Davis’ case, his innocence could only be determined with a new hearing or trial. It is disgraceful that the highest court in the land could sink so low when doubts surrounding Davis' guilt are so high."
Comments