The Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of a Texas prisoner Wednesday, after ruling his own defense team presented a jury with racist comments. Duane Buck was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend in 1996. At his trial, a state psychologist called by the defense testified that African-American criminals are more likely to pose a future danger to the public. Writing for the majority in a 6-2 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts ruled, “[The] testimony appealed to a powerful racial stereotype—that of black men as 'violence prone.'”
Supreme Court Halts Execution of Texas Prisoner, Citing Racism
HeadlineFeb 23, 2017