Supreme court guts lifeline for prisoners who claim wrongful convictions
by Ed Pilkington in New York from US news | The Guardian on (#5ZJ99)
Decision bars federal courts from hearing new evidence not presented in a state court as a result of ineffective legal counsel
The US supreme court on Monday gutted constitutional protections that for years have provided a federal lifeline to innocent prisoners facing prolonged incarceration or even execution following wrongful convictions stemming from poor legal counsel given to them by the states.
In a 6 to 3 ruling, the newly-dominant rightwing majority of the nation's highest court barred federal courts from hearing new evidence that was not previously presented in a state court as a result of the defendant's ineffective legal representation.
Continue reading...