article thumbnail

US court revives and remands Alabama burial ground dispute in Muscogee Nation case

JURIST

The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on Friday vacated a previous ruling that dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Oklahoma-based Muscogee (Creek) Nation, who challenged the construction of a casino in Alabama on land they claim is sacred. US Circuit Court Judge William Pryor Jr.,

Court 208
article thumbnail

Alabama governor commutes inmate’s death sentence over innocence concerns

JURIST

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey commuted the death sentence of Robin “Rocky” Myers to life imprisonment on Friday over concerns about Myers’ possible innocence. However, Circuit Court Judge Claude Bennett McRae imposed the death penalty. The jury that convicted Myers recommended a life sentence.

Lawyers 223
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

US appeals court clears way for Alabama’s third execution by nitrogen hypoxia

JURIST

A US appeals court on Monday rejected a death row inmate’s bid to stop his scheduled November 22 execution by the controversial method of nitrogen hypoxia in Alabama. ” The lower court was unpersuaded. ” The lower court was unpersuaded. This motion was denied by US District Court Judge Keith Watkins.

Court 197
article thumbnail

Louisiana executes its first inmate by nitrogen gas after Supreme Court declines to intervene

JURIST

In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court refused to grant a stay to block Louisiana’s execution of an inmate by use of nitrogen gas. T he Louisiana State Penitentiary scheduled Jessie Hoffmans execution by nitrogen gas on Tuesday, years after the Louisiana Supreme Court convicted him of kidnapping, raping, and murdering Molly Elliott in 1997.

Court 207
article thumbnail

Federal court chooses new Alabama congressional districts map after gerrymandering challenge

JURIST

A three-judge panel in Alabama chose a new congressional district map on Thursday in response to a lawsuit arguing that the Alabama legislature’s congressional map was racially gerrymandered. After this, the special master provided three remedial plans to replace the original, gerrymandered plan the court enjoined.

Court 231
article thumbnail

Alabama executes Kenneth Smith by nitrogen gas after US Supreme Court rejects final appeal

JURIST

Alabama inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed Thursday night by nitrogen hypoxia after the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision , declined to intervene in the state’s second attempt to execute an inmate who had previously survived a botched lethal injection.

Court 221
article thumbnail

Alabama elections map appealed to the US Supreme Court over claims of ‘racial gerrymandering’

JURIST

A federal district court on Monday denied the Alabama Secretary of State’s emergency motion to allow Alabama to hold elections with congressional maps which have been called “racially gerrymandered.” In denying the emergency motion, the three judge panel found “there is no emergency.”

Court 211