The Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and death sentence this morning in State v. Lehr. The opinion includes a fairly outrageous jury misconduct claim, arising from the jurors’ applauding a state’s witness and giving a thumbs up to one of the victims. The opinion is below.
Archive for July, 2011
Yesterday the 9th Circuit ruled that Richard Hurles is entitled to a new sentencing hearing on a claim of judicial bias. The judge who presided over Mr. Hurles’ trial and capital sentencing became an adversary in his case by actively participating in a pre-trial interlocutory appeal. The opinion is below.
Yesterday Texas executed Humberto Leal, a Mexican national who had been denied his right to consular assistance under the Vienna Convention. For more information please visit www.humbertoleal.org
This morning the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence in State v. Styers. Justice Hurwitz dissented, finding the case should be remanded for a jury sentencing. Notably, both the majority and the dissent believe the 9th Circuit incorrectly granted relief after finding the Arizona Supreme Court had committed a Tennard violation.
