U.S. high court throws out Louisiana death row inmate's conviction

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday threw out a Louisiana death row inmate’s conviction for a 2008 triple murder, finding that his lawyer violated the man’s constitutional rights by ignoring his objections and telling jurors the defendant killed the victims.

The court ruled 6-3 that Robert McCoy, 44, should receive a new trial. McCoy was convicted of killing the mother, stepfather and son of his estranged wife in Bossier City, Louisiana. All were shot in the head at close range.

The justices found that McCoy’s right to legal representation at trial under the U.S. Constitution’s Sixth Amendment was violated.

“The ruling restores in Louisiana the constitutional right of every individual to present their defense to a jury. While rare in the rest of the country, what happened to Mr. McCoy was a part of Louisiana’s broken criminal justice system that fails to respect individual human dignity,” said Richard Bourke, one of McCoy’s current lawyers.

-snip-

SUPREME COURT MAY 14, 2018 / 10:22 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Lawrence Hurley
4 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-deathrow/u-s-high-court-throws-out-louisiana-death-row-inmates-conviction-idUSKCN1IF1XL

[Dr. Strange]

1. What a bizarre case.

Here's the decision: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-8255_i4ek.pdf

[jmowreader]

2. Nasty tweetstorm from Orange Foolius in 3-2-1...

[azureblue]

3. the lawyer did that

to try to avoid a death sentence conviction. Didn't work - the murders were heinous enough to warrant a death penalty. It's not a matter of "human dignity" at all. It was a matter of trying to save a murderer from a death sentence.

[moriah]

5. Well, if he suspected it was reversible error...

... I guess it did work, eventually.

[scipan]

6. he told the jury client was guilty despite client's wishes

I guess the human dignity part is the right to plead what you wish to plead

[bitterross]

4. Who would have guessed Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch were the dissent?

on edit: The title is supposed to be sarcasm.

Actually, I'm surprised this didn't come in 5-4 with Roberts along on the dissent.

[Bradical79]

7. Glad to hear

New trial is absolutely the right decision. The lawyer fucked up royally.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. They should just thorw out the death penalty altogether.

A wretched, completely pointless institution that is a shame on this country.