Supreme Court Overturns Richard Glossip’s Conviction and Death Sentence
The U.S. Supreme Court has made a significant decision in the case of Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma death row inmate, by overturning his murder conviction and death penalty. This marks a pivotal moment in Glossip’s more than two-decade-long legal battle.
The Court determined that Glossip’s trial was not conducted fairly, violating his constitutional rights. Consequently, the previous judgment by the Oklahoma state court has been reversed, and the case is being sent back for a new trial.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored the majority opinion, which was supported by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Justice Amy Coney Barrett agreed with the opinion in part, while Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented, with Barrett joining in part. Notably, Justice Neil Gorsuch abstained from participating in this case.
Anti-death penalty activists rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 29 in an attempt to prevent the execution of Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip. Larry French/Getty Images
The case’s complexity is underscored by its roots in a “remarkable true-crime drama” that had Oklahoma’s attorney general at odds with the state’s highest criminal appeals court. The Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether the state court had erred in dismissing the attorney general’s conclusion that Glossip deserved a new trial.
Glossip’s journey through the legal system has been fraught with challenges, having faced two trials and numerous appeals, including one that reached the Supreme Court. His time on death row spans over 25 years.
Read the Supreme Court’s opinion and learn more about the case through coverage from NPR.
This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
