Summer 2009

Death Penalty

Panelists Discuss Death Penalty's Future at the US Supreme Court During 2009 ABA Annual Meeting

At the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago the Project hosted a program titled “The Future of the Death Penalty in the United States Supreme Court.”

Death Penalty

23rd Anniversary & Volunteer Recognition Event

Each year the Project celebrates its dedicated volunteers at our Anniversary & Volunteer Recognition Event. We invite you to attend this year’s event on September 24, 2009, at the Woodruff Arts Center in midtown Atlanta.

Death Penalty

Supreme Court Review

The Supreme Court released its oral argument calendar for the first sitting of the Term that opens on Monday, October 5, 2009. Newly confirmed Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor will be on the bench as the Term begins.

Death Penalty

Jurisdiciton in Need: Arizona

With approximately 140 death penalty cases pending at the trial court in Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona, increased pressure for death penalty cases to proceed quickly to trial, and significant budget cuts at the Office of State Capital Post Conviction Public Defender, the capital defense system in Arizona is experiencing an unprecedented crisis.

Death Penalty

Case Spotlight

The Project is currently seeking volunteer counsel to assist two death row prisoners in Florida in their federal post-conviction proceedings. Although otherwise unconnected, both clients received grossly inadequate representation from the same attorney and were granted the extremely rare relief of equitable tolling by the federal district court.

Death Penalty

United States District Court vacates death sentence for Kenneth Thomas

On April 21, 2009, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama vacated the death sentence for petitioner Kenneth Glenn Thomas. After a 126-page opinion concluded that Mr. Thomas was mentally retarded, the court ordered that he receive a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Death Penalty

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit remands Justin Wolfe's habeas case

On May 11, 2009, in a unanimous opinion, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit remanded Justin Wolfe's habeas case for a determination of his Schlup claim of actual innocence and, if he satisfies that threshold, a merits determination of his defaulted claims. The court's ruling orders the district court to determine whether Mr. Wolfe is entitled to an evidentiary hearing.

Death Penalty

Virginia Supreme Court vacates death sentence for Daryl Atkins

Death Penalty

Texas Judge orders release of Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott pending possible retrial

On June 24, 2009, Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott were released on bond, more than nine years after confessing under psychological coercion.

Death Penalty

Mayer Brown secures withdrawal of death sentence for client Deryl Madison

On July 24, 2009, volunteer attorneys at Mayer Brown LLP secured a withdrawal of the death sentence for longstanding client Deryl Madison in exchange for a sentence of life without parole.