Title : Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court grants stay of execution to Keith Tharpe
link : Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court grants stay of execution to Keith Tharpe
Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court grants stay of execution to Keith Tharpe
In a 6-3 decision, the court’s justices were apparently concerned about claims that one of Tharpe’s jurors was racist and sentenced Tharpe to death because he was African-American.
Three justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch — dissented.
The high court will now decide whether to hear Tharpe’s appeal, and, if it doesn’t, the court said the stay of execution shall terminate automatically. But that will not happen tonight.
Tharpe’s lawyers were overjoyed with the decision. “We’re gratified the court understands this case merits thoughtful consideration outside the press of an execution warrant,” said Brian Kammer, one of Tharpe’s attorneys.
“We are extremely thankful that the court has seen fit to consider Mr. Tharpe's claim of juror racial bias in regular order."
The decision halts the execution, at least temporarily, while Tharpe's lawyers make the argument that he should not be subject to the death penalty on the grounds that "racism played a pivotal role" in his sentencing.
The lawyers had asked the US Supreme Court and the Georgia Supreme Court on Saturday to stay the execution, saying that one of the jurors in Tharpe's sentencing later admitted that his decision was influenced by Tharpe's race. The juror, Barney Gattie, was interviewed by lawyers from the Georgia Resource Center in 1998 as part of Tharpe's post-conviction appeals process, according to petition.
During the interview, Gattie, who was white, told attorneys that he favored the death penalty because Tharpe was a “nigger” who had killed someone whom Gattie considered to be “‘good’ black folk.” Gattie also told lawyers that his Bible study had led him to “wonder if black people even have souls.”
Georgia's post-conviction courts denied Tharpe's appeals to consider the racial bias in his sentencing, because of a state law that prohibits courts from admitting or considering juror testimony that "impeaches" the verdict.
On Tuesday, the Georgia Supreme Court declined to stop the execution, siding with state attorneys who argued the racial bias claim was barred by evidence evidence rules in Georgia.
The lawyers had asked the US Supreme Court and the Georgia Supreme Court on Saturday to stay the execution, saying that one of the jurors in Tharpe's sentencing later admitted that his decision was influenced by Tharpe's race. The juror, Barney Gattie, was interviewed by lawyers from the Georgia Resource Center in 1998 as part of Tharpe's post-conviction appeals process, according to petition.
During the interview, Gattie, who was white, told attorneys that he favored the death penalty because Tharpe was a “nigger” who had killed someone whom Gattie considered to be “‘good’ black folk.” Gattie also told lawyers that his Bible study had led him to “wonder if black people even have souls.”
Georgia's post-conviction courts denied Tharpe's appeals to consider the racial bias in his sentencing, because of a state law that prohibits courts from admitting or considering juror testimony that "impeaches" the verdict.
On Tuesday, the Georgia Supreme Court declined to stop the execution, siding with state attorneys who argued the racial bias claim was barred by evidence evidence rules in Georgia.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, BuzzFeed News, Sept. 26, 2017
⚑ | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com.
 |
 |
Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE!
"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Thus Article Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court grants stay of execution to Keith Tharpe
That's an article Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court grants stay of execution to Keith Tharpe This time, hopefully can give benefits to all of you. well, see you in posting other articles.
You are now reading the article Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court grants stay of execution to Keith Tharpe with the link address https://ifthisisforyour.blogspot.com/2017/09/georgia-us-supreme-court-grants-stay-of.html
0 Response to "Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court grants stay of execution to Keith Tharpe"
Post a Comment