Posted on 04/21/2012 12:33:27 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Concluding that racial bias played a significant factor in a death sentence here 18 years ago, a judge on Friday ordered that it be changed to life in prison without parole, the first such decision under North Carolina’s controversial Racial Justice Act.
The landmark ruling could be the first of many under the law, which allows future defendants and current death row inmates to present evidence, including statistical patterns, suggesting that race played a major role in their being sentenced to death.
...Mr. Robinson’s guilt was not at issue. The judge called his crime — kidnapping 17-year-old Erik Tornblom, shooting him and stealing his car and $27 in his wallet — “unspeakably horrendous.”
But a statistical study of racial disparities during jury selection revealed strong enough findings “to support a conclusion of intentional discrimination” at every level, Judge Weeks said in his 167-page ruling.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Since he was found guilty and nothing is overturning that, what does it matter?
Odd how these “racial imbalance” laws and decisions never actually confront the other logical inference of those stats... that a disproportionate number of said crimes are actually committed by certain races. Nope... can ONLY be racism, and no other possibilities may be considered.
If he isn’t guilty,let him go. If he is still guilty, why reduce the sentence?
Sometimes it sucks living here in NC.
You're in desperate need of sensitivity training...you racist!
The perp is guilty. NO question of guilt. No question of legal-status of the sentence. Sentence well within guidelines.
But RACE gets her off death row?
Where’s the outrage?
Sorry - “HE” (ugh - don’t feel well this morning)
What a load of BS. Whites are assumed by law to be racists.
What they are saying is that a white jury cannot judge a black man. We white people cannot hold anyone but whites accountable in court.
He was sentenced longer ago now than his victim had an opportunity to live.
Does anyone here believe this judge came up with this completely on his own? I’d bet that he had some quiet discussions with Holder’s people.
If the judge thought there was bias in the jury selection, he could have applied his opinion to this particular case. Instead, he chose to issue a “landmark ruling” which basically exempts blacks from capital punishment, no matter how heinous the crime.
One of the most screwed up things about the judiciary, it seems to me, is how difficult it is to overturn a half-assed decision. Maybe lawyers have “physics envy” in the sense that they think each decision is the equivalent of a mathematically sound theorem that they can and must build upon. Many decisions, especially those left to individual judges, can be less than ideal, but damnably difficult to reverse due to the deference accorded them.
Those on death row should be moved off death row.
Straight to the state-designated method of execution.
Thanks Berlin_Freeper.
“Racial justice” = “Affirmative Action”
Look up the leftist term "Institutional Racism". This edict is based upon a false premise and uses 'statistical' evidence to support it. It is a sham like every progressive feel good social justice initiative.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.