Capital Punishment
Damon Thibodeaux: A Case of False Confession
Damon A. Thibodeaux was exonerated in 2012 after 15 years on death row in Louisiana. DNA and other evidence proved he did not commit the crime of raping and murdering his young cousin to which he originally confessed. His confession came at the end of nine hours of police interrogation; he was exhausted when it began and beyond confused by the time he issued a confession riddled with mistakes of fact, and containing only information he had received from the police or conjecture.
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58 Capital Punishment Cases
U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2012
Capital Punishment
Ryan v. Gonzales and Tibbals v. Carter
Whether death row inmates who have been found incompetent are entitled to a stay of their federal habeas corpus proceedings.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2012
Capital Punishment
Ryan v. Gonzales and Tibbals v. Carter
Whether death row inmates who have been found incompetent are entitled to a stay of their federal habeas corpus proceedings.
Court Case
Jan 2012
Capital Punishment
Galloway v. Mississippi
In a petition for certiorari filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, the ACLU is challenging a death sentence the State of Mississippi obtained against Mississippi death row prisoner Leslie Galloway, who was sentenced to death in 2010 for the murder of Shakeylia Anderson. The State convinced the jury to have Mr. Galloway executed by forbidding it from hearing anything about the harsh conditions Mr. Galloway would face in a Mississippi prison if the jury chose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole instead of execution.
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Court Case
Jan 2012
Capital Punishment
Galloway v. Mississippi
In a petition for certiorari filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, the ACLU is challenging a death sentence the State of Mississippi obtained against Mississippi death row prisoner Leslie Galloway, who was sentenced to death in 2010 for the murder of Shakeylia Anderson. The State convinced the jury to have Mr. Galloway executed by forbidding it from hearing anything about the harsh conditions Mr. Galloway would face in a Mississippi prison if the jury chose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole instead of execution.
U.S. Supreme Court
May 2011
Capital Punishment
+2 Issues
Maples v. Thomas
Whether the defendant's failure to file a timely appeal in state court should bar all subsequent federal court review of his death sentence when the reason for the missed deadline was that Alabama officials made no effort to inform him of an adverse decision from the state courts after it was returned unopened by his lawyers' former law firm.
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U.S. Supreme Court
May 2011
Capital Punishment
+2 Issues
Maples v. Thomas
Whether the defendant's failure to file a timely appeal in state court should bar all subsequent federal court review of his death sentence when the reason for the missed deadline was that Alabama officials made no effort to inform him of an adverse decision from the state courts after it was returned unopened by his lawyers' former law firm.
Court Case
May 2011
Capital Punishment
Smart Justice
Coble v. Texas
The ACLU has filed a petition for certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Billie Wayne Coble. Mr. Coble served on Texas's death row for 18 years between his first and second capital trials. During these 18 years he proved to be a model inmate. He was never once issued a violation notice - a rare feat in prison. He was a positive role model to other inmates and consistently helped other inmates and prison guards.
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Court Case
May 2011
Capital Punishment
Smart Justice
Coble v. Texas
The ACLU has filed a petition for certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Billie Wayne Coble. Mr. Coble served on Texas's death row for 18 years between his first and second capital trials. During these 18 years he proved to be a model inmate. He was never once issued a violation notice - a rare feat in prison. He was a positive role model to other inmates and consistently helped other inmates and prison guards.