Justices Side With Texas Death Row Inmate Seeking DNA Testing To Show He Shouldn't Be Executed

[Wicked Blue]

Source: AP via HuffPost

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled for a Texas death row inmate who is seeking DNA testing to show he should be ineligible for execution.

The 6-3 decision in favor of Ruben Gutierrez gives him a potential path to have evidence tested that his lawyers say would help prove he was not responsible for the fatal stabbing of an 85-year-old woman during a home robbery decades ago.

His lawyers have said there was no physical or forensic evidence connecting him to the killing and that he was not a major participant in the crime. Two others also were charged in the case.

Gutierrez’s lawyers argued that his case was similar to that of Rodney Reed, another longtime death row inmate in Texas who also won a round at the Supreme Court in his fight for DNA testing that he says would show he is innocent of murder.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/supreme-court-gutierrez_n_685d5861e4b073fdbf81fbe7

[NotHardly]

1. Proof "beyond reasonable doubt" standard should always be the determination...

one cannot undo an execution

[Scrivener7]

2. Why would that even be a question? If there's DNA evidence, it should be tested. Damn.

[bluestarone]

3. EXACTLY. But look at those 3 no good bastards

That voted no. I wish it were THEM asking for this decision.

[progressoid]

4. Wow.

I'm kind of shocked they decided in his favor. The courts haven't exactly been humane recently.

[liberalla]

6. Yes... somewhat surprising they did the right thing! As you said, that hasn't been the norm recently.

[nuxvomica]

5. Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch dissented

In case anyone was wondering.