The Supreme Court has thrown out Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip’s murder conviction due to prosecutorial misconduct, ordering a new trial. Glossip was convicted in 1998 of arranging a murder in 1997 and has faced imminent execution multiple times. The decision was a rare victory for a death row inmate at the conservative court. The court was divided 5-3 over the decision. The key witness in the case had lied in court, and prosecutors withheld information, leading to the conviction being overturned.
Glossip’s lawyers welcomed the ruling, arguing that prosecutors cannot hide critical evidence and allow false testimony. The state attorney general agreed that the conviction was unsound, leading to the appeal’s success. Prosecutors now have to decide whether to put Glossip on trial again, but it is unclear if he would be eligible for the death penalty. Sotomayor wrote for the court that the prosecution had failed to correct false testimony, entitling Glossip to a new trial.
The case hinged largely on the testimony of the key witness, Justin Sneed, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder but never disclosed this information. The court found that Sneed gave false testimony at trial, undermining the case against Glossip. Despite the ruling, Glossip’s innocence remains in question, with the state stopping short of agreeing with his claim. The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the importance of upholding justice in legal proceedings and preventing miscarriages of justice.
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