AP: (Supreme) Court Rules Against Death Row Inmate

[Eugene]

Court Rules Against Death Row Inmate

Tuesday February 20, 2007 5:01 PM

By PETE YOST

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a Florida death row prisoner
lost an opportunity to challenge his conviction in the federal court system because
he missed a one-year filing deadline.

In a 5-4 decision, the justices sided with the state of Florida against inmate Gary
Lawrence, who faces execution for murdering a man who had moved in with Lawrence's
wife.

Under the federal Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, death row
inmates have one year after a conviction becomes final in state courts to petition
the federal system to review the case.

Lawrence's lawyers say they stopped the clock from running on the state's one-year
time limit by petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court. A majority of the court rejected
that argument.

-snip-

Font size: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6428169,00.html

[sharp_stick]

1. Damn but we are a barbaric bunch in this country

Other than revenge I can't see much of a need for the death penalty.

One of the common tactics used in defending a death row prisoner is trying to run out the clock by waiting until the last minute to file appeals and the like. This is usually quite effective is adding years to an inmates life but it can really bite you in the ass when you miss a deadline.

[0rganism]

2. that sure puts the "dead" back in "deadline", don't it?

Yes, Virginia, sometimes your ass is on the line for the paperwork...

[OneBlueSky]

3. these guys just define the term "compassionate justice," don't they? . . . n/t

.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. Even Paul Wellstone voted for this law

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00071

[w4rma]

11. The law isn't the problem. Those 5 "conservatives'" interpretation of the law is the problem. (nt)

[951-Riverside]

4. He should have murdered the wife too n/t

[DIKB]

8. Her ONLY imo

Marital vows are "til death do us part" which would imply one of the couple dying. A 3rd party cannot be held to those vows. *Note* This is slightly in jest.

My attitude, as a straight guy, is that if another man messes around w/ any woman I'm with, I can't really blame him. Fidelity is HER responsibility, your average joe can't really be blamed for "getting what he can."

[Benhurst]

5. The United States Supreme Court

What a sad, sorry, sick joke.

[Olney Blue]

7. Is there a breakdown of the cast votes (not that I can't guess)?

[usregimechange]

9. 5-4

Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Scalia, Kennedy, and Alito, JJ., joined. Ginsburg, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Stevens, Souter, and Breyer, JJ., joined.

[Olney Blue]

10. Failure is not an option for the Democrats in 2008.

[usregimechange]

12. Amen.