High Court Won't Review Skakel Verdict

AP via Herald Sun ^ | 11/13/06 | MARK SHERMAN : Associated Press Writer

[mathprof]

The Supreme Court on Monday let stand the murder conviction of Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, who is serving a prison term of at least 20 years.

The justices declined, without comment, to take Skakel's appeal of his conviction in the beating death of his Greenwich, Conn., neighbor, Martha Moxley, 31 years ago when the two were teenagers. Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Kennedy, was convicted in 2002.

Now 46, Skakel is serving 20 years to life in prison.

"We're very pleased," said prosecutor Jonathan Benedict. "This has been researched for years. This is not unexpected."

Skakel's lawyer, former Solicitor General Theodore Olson, had argued that the deadline for prosecuting Skakel passed 19 years before he was arrested in January 2000.

At the time of Moxley's killing, Connecticut had a five-year statute of limitations on murder cases that did not involve the death penalty. One year later, in 1976, the state legislature removed the five-year deadline in such cases.

The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld Skakel's conviction, overturning its earlier holding that the new law did not apply to crimes committed before its enactment. The legislature intended to remove the deadline for prosecution for all crimes, like Moxley's killing, for which the statute of limitations had not yet expired, the state court said.

[cgk]

Skakel's lawyer, former Solicitor General Theodore Olson,

Wow. I had no idea this is what he was up to now.

[Right Cal Gal]

I have to admit to real surprise there, too.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Pardon me - but appellate argument before the Supreme Court is highly specialized. Hiring a former Solicitor General of the United States is not a bad idea. It's not criminal defense at that stage of the process.

[Howlin]

Trial Ping List Ping!!!

[cherry]

well, some good news for a change....

[onyx]

HAE!
Take that Mickie Sherman.

[meandog]

well, some good news for a change....

Better news would have been the incarceration of William Kennedy Smith too

[ozzymandus]

Anything for a buck, eh, Ted? Typical lawyer.

[Txsleuth]

Good news, for a change...thanks Howlin.

[Grampa Dave]

First time in over a century that a Kennedy or Kennedy relative will do time for their crime.

[Gay State Conservative]

Hiring a former Solicitor General of the United States is not a bad idea

I could never be a criminal defense lawyer or a criminal appeals lawyer unless I could make a decent living representing those that *I* was either convinced of being innocent or at least strongly suspected that they were innocent.

I can't,for the life of me,understand how lawyers who represent the likes of OJ and Skakil can sleep at night.

[FormerACLUmember]

One less Kennedy murderer/psychopath to terrorize the public. At least for 20 years.

[xarmydog]

I'll volunteer to take him golfing when he gets out.I don't know how to,but I have a vintage set of Lee Trevino's golf clubs that have one heck of a deep driver.

[theDentist]

Obviously someone hasn't found the time to purchase a yacht for the judge.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Well...I think old Neck Brace would quickly inform you that Skakel is not a real Kennedy. Sure, the Skakels have money from coke trading but not REAL money like Blue Bloods have (sniff)...
No doubt the staff will send him a card at Christmas.

[BigSkyFreeper]

At least there is still some good news these days.

[bannie]

I agree: That's what makes law so nasty to me. I could only be a lawyer if I only took cases in which I knew that I was fighting for justice--true justice, not "lawyerly justice."

I know that there are good people who are lawyers. It's just a profession in which the tarring brush is so darned wide.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the BOL.

[Alberta's Child]

Kennedy family ping.