Troy Davis Granted Stay Of Execution

[deminatl]

Source: WsbTv

The U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for Georgia inmate Troy Davis just after 5 p.m. Tuesday. Davis was set to be executed at 7 p.m.

Both the Georgia Supreme Court and the state Board of Pardons and Paroles refused late Monday to stop the execution of convicted cop-killer Troy Davis.

A roster of big-name supporters, including former President Jimmy Carter and South Africa Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have taken up Davis's cause. They insist that the 39-year-old Davis deserves a new trial.

Last-minute appeals from condemned inmates are nothing unusual. However, experts say so much attention is being lavished on Davis because the case hinges on the most fundamental question in the criminal justice system: "Did he do it?"

Appeals usually try to expose legal technicalities, not actual claims of innocence, said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Death Penalty Information Center, which opposes capital punishment.



Read more: http://www.wsbtv.com/news/17535564/detail.html

---

great news.

[hisownpetard]

1. That *is* great news. Thanks for posting it, and welcome to DU, pd!

[tblue]

2. WOW! I have been in agony over this pending execution of an innocent man.

The article doesn't talk about the update re: the SCOTUS. But I am so glad to hear this, and I'll be looking for the details. Wow. Just, wow.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Fantastic.

A little bit of good news, for a change.

[quiet.american]

4. This. is. the. best. news! nt

[angstlessk]

5. but the stay is temporary...for how long? I have heard of stays being

overturned in a matter of hours...can this happen here?

[deminatl]

11. i think for a week nt

[Birthday]

6. TROY DAVIS

Source: By GREG BLUESTEIN

; Breaking:True;


ATLANTA (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has given a last-minute reprieve to a Georgia man less than two hours before he was to be executed for the 1989 slaying of an off-duty police officer.

Supporters of 39-year-old Troy Davis have called for a new trial as several witnesses have recanted their testimony. Protesters had arrived by the busload to protest the execution, carrying signs with slogans like ``Justice for Troy Davis'' and wearing blue T-shirts emblazoned with ``I am Troy Davis.''

The Rev. Al Sharpton had accompanied members of Davis' family to the protest, including Davis' mother, Virginia.

Prosecutors have labeled the witness statements ``suspect,'' and courts had previously refused requests for a new trial.

The execution had been scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.

No link yet.

---

This is a stunning reversal. I am so grateful.

[patriotvoice]

7. Better 1,000 guilty men go free than 1 innocent man be executed.

On a related note:
And for all you "Christians" out there that support the death penalty, remember this: Jesus's death certificate read "state-sponsored homicide."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[knowbody0]

8. great news

thanks for posting

[eowyn_of_rohan]

9. What a relief

Thank you Jimmy Carter

[emlev]

10. Here's a bit more info:

The U.S. Supreme Court’s justices are scheduled to decide Monday whether to hear an appeal of a ruling issued in March by the Georgia Supreme Court. In that 4-3 decision, the state Supreme Court rejected Davis’ request that he be granted a new trial or a court hearing to present new evidence.

In its order, the U.S. Supreme Court said if the justices decline to accept Davis’ appeal, “this stay shall terminate immediately.” If the appeal is granted, the stay will remain in force until the high court issues its ultimate ruling on Davis’ appeal, the order said.

from the Atlanta Journal Constitution

[FourScore]

12. YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

[gateley]

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a stay of execution for Troy Anthony Davis, who was convicted in 1

Source: cnn.com

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a stay of execution for Troy Anthony Davis, who was convicted in 1991 of killing a police officer.

No link yet.

---

Breaking - no story yet.

[Zhade]

13. YES!

This is the guy who was sentenced, despite there being NO murder weapon and the witnesses for the prosecution coming forward afterward to reveal they'd been pressured by the cops to lie!

[redwitch]

14. Good.

I am glad to hear it.

[d_b]

15. Glad I signed that DU petition.

[Zhade]

38. I was so upset, because I learned he was to be murdered today.

I couldn't help in time, but thank goodness so many people and organizations stood up for justice here!

On a related note, comics Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny (who writes for HuffPo) host a savagely funny podcast called Drunken Politics -- available on iTunes. A little rough audio-wise, but sooooo worth listening to, because they are right on. I mention them because they've been urging people to act on this issue.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

58. He wasn't going to be murdered.

[Zhade]

72. Executing an innocent man denied his right to a fair trial IS murder.

NT!

[JerseygirlCT]

16. Thank goodness. nt

[Joe Chi Minh]

17. What good news.

[grannie4peace]

18. praise GOD!

i prayed i signed the petition too

[bananas]

19. Glad to hear some good news!

[Venceremos]

20. His guilt is highly questionable.

He was convicted purely on witness testimony (no physical evidence). Seven of the nine witnesses who initially testified against him have since recanted.

[Zhade]

39. And that's reasonable doubt. Never should have been convicted in the first place.

The witnesses say the cops threatened them to lie. I wouldn't be surprised.

[Diane R]

21. Amazing! Wonderful news.

[struggle4progress]

22. US Supreme Court stays execution of Georgia death row inmate (AFP)

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjsz_Lew3tDotDGTjKQ...

Essentially no detail at link

[struggle4progress]

23. Stay Of Execution Granted For Troy Davis (local channel 11)

JACKSON, Ga. -- The U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of execution for Georgia inmate Troy Davis .. just two hours before he was .. to be put to death ... for .. killing .. Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail ...

Davis' lawyers and supporters say this is a case of mistaken identity. Seven of the nine trial witnesses have changed their statements, saying they were mistaken. Some say they feared retribution from the man they say actually killed MacPhail or that police pressured them into fingering Davis ...

Many have asked the state of Georgia to grant Davis a new trial: celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Harry Belafonte and the Indigo Girls; world leaders such as former President Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pope Benedict XVI; and former and current U.S. lawmakers like Bob Barr, Carolyn Moseley Braun and John Lewis.

Amnesty International has issued a 39-page report questioning his conviction, and protesters have been gathering at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta this week ...

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=12...

[Bennyboy]

24. Something good happened today.....

And this is it. I have been fretting over this for a while now. I am so happy.

[happygoluckytoyou]

25. proud 2B among who wrote their govt on this YOU SHOULDNT PREEMPTIVE STRIKE IF YOU MIGHT B WRONG!!!

[nini]

26. Excellent

They did the right thing and justice needs to be served, not the death penalty vultures.

[sonias]

27. Thank you friggin SCOTUS!

For once that almost useless Reich-wing controlled court did something decent. I'm sure Thomas and Scalia ruled against Troy. They always do.

Oh and fuck that Georgia Supreme court!

Sonia

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

59. This and the Heller decision.

Great rulings.

David

[youarefunny]

63. Sorry Sonia

Hate to be the bearer of bad news for you, however, the Honorable Justice Thomas granted Troy Davis the stay. He is responsible for emergency petitions for stays of execution in the 11th Federal Circuit, which Georgia is a part of. In this phase of the case, each Justice hears stay petitions and determines if a stay should be granted. After one is granted, as in this case, the full court determines if they will grant a writ of certiorari. If 4 Justices decide to grant the certiorari request, full judicial review of the issues in the appeal would be heard at oral argument, and as you probably know, a majority decision would decide the legal disposition of this case.

Thus, in this stage of the case, 1 Justice determines if a stay is going to be granted. In this case, Justice Thomas handles requests that originate from the 11th Circuit.

Hope that helps to clear up any confusion you might have had.

Regards.

[sonias]

64. Thanks for the correction

But please never use the word "honorable" and Justice Thomas together on this board, that just doesn't ring true to me. I don't care if that is the proper way to address a Supreme Court Justice. Scalia and Thomas don't deserve that honor. A simple Justice Thomas is all he merits.

Thanks

Sonia

[Judi Lynn]

28. Sure hope it will encourage the Georgia authorities to examine this more closely,

acknowledge the witnesses have recanted, and respect the fact Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu have both asked for clemency.

My God, how much encouragement do they need to do the right thing?

Astonishing to see THIS Supreme Court did something decent.

Thank you for breaking the news, parkersdad.

[Demeter]

29. Judi Lynn, How Can You Ask That?

"My God, how much encouragement do they need to do the right thing?"

The better question would be, what made the Supreme Court act responsibly?

[defendandprotect]

49. Embarrasment -- internationally --

they don't care about America's reaction -- they know they can IGNORE that --

but Scalia wants international opinion/practices/reactions to their decisions

to also be ignored as matter of policy -- !!!

Scalia is a "Christian" fascist" ...

[kmdemqueen]

30. I was so Happy

Hopefully when Obama get's in the white house. Maybe he pardon him? Or least reduce his sentence to life.

[BrklynLiberal]

31. YES!!!

[DinahMoeHum]

32. Thank G*d! "Curfew shall not ring tonight" !!

[kaygore]

33. Thank you for the update--I have been praying all day

and as 7:00 p.m. EDT came, I started looking for news that Troy was still alive.

Thank you for posting this!!!!!

[jobycom]

34. Great news I was honestly afraid to hope for!! nt

[kmdemqueen]

35. Think of this

Now we are all happy about this. But does any really believe that the supremes up there made this stay because of the law. since when do they care about that. i.e. 200 election. Does anyone may think that this could be a political stay. I mean we would all blame the Republicans and their death penalty , But does it struck you a little odd that this suddenly happened. do you really think if this was not an election years , this happen. I have my doug hts that this had anything to do with law, or anything. I believe this was politics.

[Peace Patriot]

46. Yeah, I agree. Look for the worm in this decision. I am overjoyed that an innocent

man will not be executed (yet), and, indeed, I oppose all state murder. It doesn't matter to me whether he was guilty or not--although the execution of an innocent is, of course, more emotionally wrenching. But I think the decision and subsequent actions should be carefully vetted for some Corpo/Fascist purpose that it may be serving. You may be right that it's simply political, either related to the election, or to another Fascist political purpose--for instance, if they execute a man who is so obviously innocent (no physical evidence, 7 of the 9 witnesses have recanted and spoken of police pressure), the momentum against the death penalty will be boosted. Bushwhacks have a way of putting us over a barrel like this, with their real purpose hidden behind their backs. Of course I want to see this man live, and go free. But the reason they MAY doing this is to preserve this extremely unjust, Fascist policy of executing prisoners. Letting him go (if they do), quiets things down. And, if you are right about their motive, then he will be executed, after the election, despite his innocence.

I picked up, quickly reading threads about this, that this was Clarence Thomas decision. Not sure if this is true, but, if it is, it's all the more reason to be suspicious and wary. And this introduces an additional possible Fascist motive--heading off any potential move to impeach Thomas. The real reason for appointments like Thomas and Scalia and Roberts is to protect the Corporate Rulers' power. The American people and our rights--and our Constitution--are neither here nor there, to them. Our rights, and our laws, and our very lives, are just pawns in the Corporate game, moved around the chessboard and sacrificed without a thought, for profit and power. These so-called justices, and their Corpo puppetmasters, couldn't care less if an innocent man is murdered by the state of Georgia. Their pals in the White House blithely slaughtered a hundred thousand innocent people, in one night of "shock and awe" bombing, to get their oil. The lives and rights of ordinary people have absolutely no meaning to them. It is smart--and it is certainly well-deserved--for us to look to their ulterior motives in anything and everything they do. It is also strategically wise--because, we can take it as rule of thumb that they are NEVER up to any good. Never!

[NikolaC]

36. This is great news!

Hopefully now justice will be done, he will be set free and the real killer brought to justice.

[emilyg]

40. One can hope and pray.

[Pastiche423]

37. I woke up this morning thinking...

this is the day.

But hearing this news has given me so hope for Mr. Davis.

[atjrpsych]

41. Thank god!

I am so happy to hear this news.

[pberq]

42. Great news!

[KitchenWitch]

43. I am crying tears of joy and relief

This is fantastic news.

[janethussein]

44. Great ! As a former prosecutor in Houston

Harris County, Texas, I have seen enough of the bullshit against African Americans just so that the FRAUDULENT DA can get a conviction and get re-elected.

ENOUGH !!

[trthnd4jstc]

45. Thank G-d!

I had sent this story to as many liberal friends that I had. Thank goodness. Not a single innocent should be subjected to what Mr. Davis endured, and especially not to execute an innocent. Thank goodness.

[demokatgurrl]

47. Thank you so much for posting this- I just

saw the story on Yahoo. I was pleasantly surprised to see this story on the front page of DU- I spend so much time on the Presidential board that I miss all this, and didn't realize I had such kindred spirits. I wrote a letter also,and feel good to know it may have helped a little bit along with many others.


If you want to get updates (some happy, some not so), I suggest you subscribe to the innocence blog.
E-mail to [e-mail] or go to their wonderful web site.

Also, if you can at all afford it, donate to the exonerees' fund of the Innocence Project. Many states (including mine, PA) do not have compensation laws. Some people spend many years in jail and when they are exonerated, are given nothing.

Anyway, I am happy, but still sad that we even have to fight this fight to save innocent lives.

[JimDandy]

48. What a relief!

Seven people recanted their testimony and he was still up for execution tonight? Something is wrong with our system. Good for the Supremes. Now get that man a new trial, somebody!

[Gregorian]

50. It's only a stay until the Georgia appeals looks at it on Monday.

I'm feeling less enthusiastic right now. But it's something.

Let's hope the appeals court is willing to do real justice.

[Willo]

51. Yes! nt

[grantcart]

52. great

[racaulk]

53. OMG, that's such great news!

Thank you, SCOTUS!

[Dystopian]

54. Joy.....

Tears of joy....


peace~

[debbierlus]

55. Wonderful! I am so glad.

[patomime]

56. Congratulations...

this is great news. Maybe this will turn things around.

[burrowowl]

57. Great News! eom

[Ammonium]

60. I can't believe it

I had all but given up that they were going to kill him.

Absolutely stunning.

[gblady]

61. such GOOD news!

hopefully this will move forward in a positive direction.

[George II]

62. My father, who fought the death penalty for more than 50 years...

...would be so happy today.

Thank you!

[iconicgnom]

65. Look. A stay 2 hrs before the execution time is cruelty for the visceral feeling of it.

There's something fundamentally wrong with a system that cashes in on inflicting gratuitous cruelty, like that. Really.

The best metaphor for this cruelty that I can come up with, that's still sharp in all of our minds, is that of an airborne wolf-hunt from the vantage of a Piper Cub, or some other "recreational" plane common in the North. Riding the wolf down over the tundra, taking potshots. Having fun. Collecting a bounty.

I don't know why I see this connection - between this wolf and this human. A kind of "living metaphor".
Why do I see it and quite evidently a lot of people, perhaps even a majority, can't?

[demokatgurrl]

67. Excellent point, and I think if it were made more often

and to more people, sad to say, it might wake people up because for some reason, the plight of a suffering animal speaks more to some people than the plight of a suffering human.

I can't understand it, but I believe it.

[OakCliffDem]

66. K & R Capitol Punishment is just wrong

[regularguy]

68. Some rare good news! nt

[countryjake]

69. Kick and Must Read!

[percussivemadness]

70. Woohoo...You can feel the shift in karma of late.

[iandhr]

71. Thank god

... there is still hope for justice to be served