Mumia Abu-Jamal Loses Bid For New Trial

(AP)  Mumia Abu-Jamal has lost his bid for a new trial in the killing of a Philadelphia police officer in 1981.

The Supreme Court says in an order Monday it will not take up Abu-Jamal's claims that prosecutors improperly excluded blacks from the jury that convicted him of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia upheld Abu-Jamal's conviction but held his death sentence invalid. The appeals court said it would not second-guess state court rulings rejecting Abu-Jamal's claims of bias in the composition of the jury.

The high court considered only the conviction. The state has separately asked the court to reinstate the death sentence, but the justices have not acted on that request.

Also Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that confessions obtained by federal authorities before a suspect's first court appearance may be inadmissible if more than six hours elapse between an arrest and a court date.

The court says in a 5-4 decision that allowing long delays before a suspect is taken before a judge can give the government too much leverage over someone who has been arrested.

"Federal agents would be free to question suspects for extended periods before bringing them out in the open, and we have always known what custodial secrecy leads to," Justice David Souter wrote in the majority opinion.

The prisoner in the case, Johnnie Corley, was arrested on suspicion of robbing a credit union in Norristown, Pa. The FBI agents who arrested him did not take him to court for his initial appearance for 29½ hours, during which time they elicited a confession from Corley.

The case is Corley v. U.S., 07-10441.

The U.S. Supreme Court also ruled against the Navajo Nation for a second time in its battle with the federal government over whether the tribe should have gotten more money for coal on its land.

"Today we hold, once again, that the tribe's claim for compensation fails," said Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the court. "This matter should now be regarded as closed."

The case is United States v. Navajo Nation, 07-1410.

[efarah09]

From what I've read here, you all must be from Texas. The death penalty is a disgrace to this nation and ought to be abolished. Regarding Mumia... I'm ill from what I've read here. The only voices worth hearing are perhaps those of African Americans who grew up in cities like that of "Brotherly Love" and dealt with (and continue)the obscene prejudices this nation stinks of. Otherwise shut it.

[hatesthecolt]

The broken wheels of the "Free Mumia Abu-Jamel" movement will continue to roll. Cries of elaborate conspiracies, the usual charges of police brutality and racism, and the ridiculous exaggeration of the virtues of the victim will be rehashed by the usual cast of characters. The script is so familiar; the Hollywood faces so predictable; the angst so contrived. To know that we have seen this show before, one has only to recall the campaigns for Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Leonard Peltier, and Tookie Williams to name a few of our canonized criminals. Mumia Abu-Jamal should quickly step up and offer his arm to vein seeking executioner, though it will be a waste of good chemicals.
Posted by endpcnow

Hmmm. What about Ted Stevens? Shouldn't he be on this list? Is the only difference that he's a Republican? Or that in his case it looks like there really was corruption and misbehavior by the prosecutors? Funny how easy it is to believe "the law" can do no wrong. They're human aren't' they?

[efarah09]

Amen! Law made by man will never be perfect. We can however man up to our mistakes and give this man a new trial. It was the city of Philly's politicians that were found guilty after the Osage bombing!!

[thetireguy1]

I love murderers they make a statement with death and spend the rest of their lives
denying their murderers!
I say put them in a drug induced trance and ask them some truthful answers like their name
mothers name and fathers name, if they get it right under the drug ask them did they do
the crime if they answer yes! Inject them with the real deal and send them off to heaven or hell!
They are liars and murderers who think the taxpayers should continue paying the lawyers
to appeal and appeal their convictions!!!! Guilty as charged!!! Hang Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pinnie99]

IN THIS LIFE THERE ARE SOME DEVILS THAT JUST WILL NOT GO AWAY. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. HIS DEATH SENTENCE WAS OVERTURNED, BUT HE STILL WONT SHUT THE HELL UP. THATS ENOUGH . I HOPE THEY PULL THE PLUG ON THIS DEVIL AND WE DO NOT HAVE TO HEAR FROM IT ANY MORE. HE DID IT ...HE GOT HIS BREAK .....NOW SHUT UP.

[govtguy]

He did it, he's been proven guilty; man-up and get on that gurney!

[hamiltongrad]

i have read about this case, and seen documentary. This man is guitly. Only those idiots of the KPFK style progressives are swooned by his radio commentary and a romantic 1960s ideas of injustice think otherwise. He has earned his punishment.

[bigboy1069]

Now maybe we can execute this punk and be done with it.

[presjfk]

Only those that have not looked at the facts of the case or who are racially biased could believe this man not guilty. He is guilty, he did it and he should have been executed.