Death row inmates who sought to have their sentences reduced under the state’s Racial Justice Act before the law was repealed in 2013 may continue to argue their cases, the North Carolina Supreme Court has ruled, holding that lawmakers’ ...

Tagged with: Racial Justice Act

State v. Robinson (Lawyers Weekly No. 15-06-1158, 4 pp.) (Court in conference) (Sam Ervin IV, J., not participating) Appealed from Cumberland County). N.C. S. Ct. Holding: Although the state had been granted two previous continuances and had received data and ...

Tagged with: Racial Justice Act

State v. Augustine (Lawyers Weekly No. 15-06-1157, 2 pp.) (Court in conference) (Cheri Beasley & Sam Ervin IV, JJ., not participating) Appealed from Cumberland County Superior Court. N.C. S. Ct. Holding: In granting respondents’ motions for appropriate relief under the ...

Tagged with: Motion for Appropriate Relief Racial Justice Act

RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina’s highest court will rule whether a judge decided correctly when he ordered four convicted murderers moved from death row, saying racism was partially responsible for their sentences. Justices held two hearings Monday on the Racial ...

Tagged with: North Carolina Supreme Court Racial Justice Act

RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina’s highest court is again looking into the state’s capital punishment laws. The state Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments Monday in two cases involving convicted murderers whose trials were scrutinized under the now-repealed Racial Justice Act. ...

Tagged with: North Carolina Supreme Court Racial Justice Act

North Carolina's Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear the appeal of state attorneys who disagree with a trial court ruling that reduced death sentences of three convicted killers to life in prison due to racial bias.

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A North Carolina House panel endorsed a bill Wednesday that repeals a procedure for condemned inmates to challenge death sentences on racial grounds, sending the measure to the full House for final passage.

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Religious leaders of several faiths are opposing the repeal of a North Carolina law allowing death row inmates to have their sentences reduced to life in prison if they can prove racial prejudice played a part in their trials.

Tagged with: Racial Justice Act

The Racial Justice Act has hardly been a crowd-pleaser since its enactment in 2009. It barely survived a repeal attempt two years ago, only to be virtually gutted by legislators in the following session. Now it appears that the controversial law’s time may be up.

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In a closed-door session, about 60 prosecutors from North Carolina last week learned how to fight motions filed under the Racial Justice Act.

Tagged with: Racial Justice Act