The ruling in Skinner v. Switzer is in Adobe .pdf format.
Here's initial coverage from SCOTUS Blog:
10:08 Tom:
Third and final opinion: No. 09-9000, Skinner v. Switzer -- the DNA case.
10:09 Tom:
Per Ginsburg, reversing Fifth Circuit by a vote of 6-3 with Thomas dissenting joined by Kennedy and Alito.
10:09 Kali:
Skinner v. Switzer SCOTUSblog case page is here.
10:09 Tom:
The Court rules that there IS federal subject matter jurisdiction over Skinner's complaint and the claim he presents is cognizable under Section 1983.
The initial AP report is, "Court rules for inmate who wants DNA testing," via the Houston Chronicle.
The Supreme Court has ruled that an inmate on death row in Texas can pursue his legal claims to crime-scene evidence that he says may show he is innocent.
The court's narrow, 6-3 ruling Monday means that Hank Skinner will be not executed in the near future while his legal case continues.
But the decision will not necessarily result in Skinner winning the right to perform genetic testing on evidence found at the scene of the triple murder for which he received the death penalty.
Earlier coverage of the Skinner case begins at the link.
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