News
Death Penalty
Human Rights Investigator Visits Alabama
June 30, 2008Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, visited EJI on June 24, 2008, as part of his official visit to the United States this month. Today he released a statement calling on the United States to ensure that the death penalty is applied fairly and justly in states like Alabama.Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty for Child Rape is Unconstitutional
June 25, 2008The United States Supreme Court ruled today in Kennedy v. Louisiana that the death penalty is unconstitutional for crimes that did not result, and were not intended to result, in the victim’s death. The decision struck down a Louisiana law that permitted imposition of the death penalty for rape of a child under age twelve.United Nations Experts Examine Racism in the United States
May 28, 2008On May 26, 2008, United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism Doudou Diene heard testimony from EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson as part of his field mission to examine racism in the United States. Mr. Stevenson detailed evidence of racial bias against African Americans, Latinos, and other racial minorities, from the administration of the death penalty to the treatment of children in the criminal justice system. (more)Wrongful Convictions
Alabama Supreme Court to Review Anthony Ray Hinton Case
November 27, 2007The Alabama Supreme Court on November 19, 2007, agreed to review Anthony Ray Hinton's case. Mr. Hinton has been on Alabama's death row for over 20 years for crimes he did not commit. Evidence demonstrating Mr. Hinton's innocence was presented in court in 2002, but the Court of Criminal Appeals denied relief in a 3-2 decision in 2006.EJI Screens "Death in Dixie"
September 13, 2007EJI hosted a premiere screening of the film Death in Dixie, which examines race and capital punishment in Alabama, followed by a discussion featuring legislators, judges, local ministers, and former Alabama death row prisoners Walter McMillian and James “Bo” Cochran, who were exonerated after spending over 25 years combined on death row for crimes they did not commit. Contact us to arrange a screening of the film for area colleges and community groups. (more)Inadequate Counsel
EJI Director Testifies at United States Senate Hearing
April 17, 2008On April 8, 2008, EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson testified before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Constitution on "The Adequacy of Representation in Capital Cases." Using specific cases involving drunk, abusive, inexperienced and underfunded trial and appellate lawyers, he illustrated how inadequate legal representation undermines the reliability and fairness of convictions and sentences in death penalty cases.With Help From EJI, Oklahoma Death Row Prisoner James Fisher Wins New Trial
March 28, 2008On Monday, March 24, 2008, Oklahoma death row prisoner James Fisher won reversal of his capital murder conviction and death sentence because his trial counsel's performance failed to meet constitutional requirements.Eleventh Circuit Decision in Lawhorn Case Affirms Need for Effective Counsel at Penalty Phase
March 20, 2008On March 11, 2008, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s judgment granting Alabama death row prisoner James Charles Lawhorn a new sentencing trial because his trial lawyer was ineffective. (more)Racial Bias
United Nations Experts Examine Racism in the United States
May 28, 2008On May 26, 2008, United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism Doudou Diene heard testimony from EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson as part of his field mission to examine racism in the United States. Mr. Stevenson detailed evidence of racial bias against African Americans, Latinos, and other racial minorities, from the administration of the death penalty to the treatment of children in the criminal justice system."Death in Dixie" Now Available
February 21, 2008A new film by Irish filmmakers on race and the death penalty is now available from EJI. "Death in Dixie," featuring former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and EJI clients and staff, explores race and the criminal justice system and profiles three Alabama death penalty cases involving wrongful convictions. Click here to watch the preview. Copies of the 28-minute film are available for purchase from EJI.Study Finds African Americans Convicted of Killing Whites Most Likely to be Executed
August 1, 2007Ohio State University sociologists David Jacobs and Zhenchao Qian examined outcomes of 1560 people sentenced to death in 16 states from 1973 to 2002. Noting that less than 10% of people sentenced to death ultimately are executed, Jacobs found that African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latinos who are convicted of killing whites are significantly more likely to be executed on death row than other offenders. (more)Children in Adult Prison
United Nations Experts Examine Racism in the United States
May 28, 2008On May 26, 2008, United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism Doudou Diene heard testimony from EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson as part of his field mission to examine racism in the United States. Mr. Stevenson detailed evidence of racial bias against African Americans, Latinos, and other racial minorities, from the administration of the death penalty to the treatment of children in the criminal justice system.Federal Court Reverses Conviction and Death-In-Prison Sentence Imposed on 14-Year-Old Missouri Child
March 26, 2008On Monday, March 24, 2008, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri reversed the conviction and sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole imposed on Phillip Shaw for a crime that occurred when he was 14 years old.Executive Director Discusses Need to End Sentencing of Young Children to Die in Prison
March 26, 2008Today on Pacifica Radio, Executive Director Bryan Stevenson talked about EJI's work to challenge the sentencing of 13- and 14-year-old children to life imprisonment without the possiblity of parole. EJI has identified dozens of young children sentenced to die in prison in 19 states across the country. The United States is the only country in the world to sentence children as young as 13 to imprisonment until death. Click to listen to the interview.-
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Death in Prison Sentences for 13- and 14-Year Old Kids
United Nations Experts Examine Racism in the United States
May 28, 2008On May 26, 2008, United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism Doudou Diene heard testimony from EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson as part of his field mission to examine racism in the United States. Mr. Stevenson detailed evidence of racial bias against African Americans, Latinos, and other racial minorities, from the administration of the death penalty to the treatment of children in the criminal justice system.Federal Court Reverses Conviction and Death-In-Prison Sentence Imposed on 14-Year-Old Missouri Child
March 26, 2008On Monday, March 24, 2008, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri reversed the conviction and sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole imposed on Phillip Shaw for a crime that occurred when he was 14 years old.Executive Director Discusses Need to End Sentencing of Young Children to Die in Prison
March 26, 2008Today on Pacifica Radio, Executive Director Bryan Stevenson talked about EJI's work to challenge the sentencing of 13- and 14-year-old children to life imprisonment without the possiblity of parole. EJI has identified dozens of young children sentenced to die in prison in 19 states across the country. The United States is the only country in the world to sentence children as young as 13 to imprisonment until death. Click to listen to the interview.-
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Reform and Re-entry
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Race and Poverty
EJI Challenges Eleventh Circuit Denial of Meritorious Claim Because Unrepresented Inmate Did Not Use Correct Language in Brief
March 25, 2008On March 17, 2008, EJI asked the United States Supreme Court to review the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals' decision denying relief to Eli Crawford, an Alabama inmate serving a life sentence for attempted murder. At his Birmingham trial, Mr. Crawford's court-appointed trial lawyer did not object when the judge forced Mr. Crawford to wear jail-issued clothing instead of the clothes his family brought for him, even though the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that a defendant's right to be presumed innocent is violated when he is forced to attend trial in a jail uniform.EJI Appeals Conviction of Mother Sentenced to Life Without Parole After She Delivered Stillborn Baby
March 25, 2008EJI is appealing the conviction of Marsha Colby, a Baldwin County woman convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole for the death of her newborn son, despite strong evidence that the baby was stillborn."Death in Dixie" Now Available
February 21, 2008A new film by Irish filmmakers on race and the death penalty is now available from EJI. "Death in Dixie," featuring former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and EJI clients and staff, explores race and the criminal justice system and profiles three Alabama death penalty cases involving wrongful convictions. Click here to watch the preview. Copies of the 28-minute film are available for purchase from EJI. (more)Jury Selection
EJI Launches Project to Challenge Racial Bias in Jury Selection
September 13, 2007The Equal Justice Initiative has recently undertaken a major effort to challenge racial bias in jury selection throughout the United States. In communities across America, racial minorities are significantly underrepresented on criminal trial juries as a result of jury selection procedures that are racially biased and discriminatory. Although federal law in this area is well-established, because of the inherently difficult task of proving exclusion of racial minorities from jury service, there is still much progress to be made in this area. (more)Counsel for the Poor
With Help From EJI, Oklahoma Death Row Prisoner James Fisher Wins New Trial
March 28, 2008On Monday, March 24, 2008, Oklahoma death row prisoner James Fisher won reversal of his capital murder conviction and death sentence because his trial counsel's performance failed to meet constitutional requirements.EJI Challenges Eleventh Circuit Denial of Meritorious Claim Because Unrepresented Inmate Did Not Use Correct Language in Brief
March 25, 2008On March 17, 2008, EJI asked the United States Supreme Court to review the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals' decision denying relief to Eli Crawford, an Alabama inmate serving a life sentence for attempted murder. At his Birmingham trial, Mr. Crawford's court-appointed trial lawyer did not object when the judge forced Mr. Crawford to wear jail-issued clothing instead of the clothes his family brought for him, even though the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that a defendant's right to be presumed innocent is violated when he is forced to attend trial in a jail uniform.Conference Addresses Inadequate Counsel for Poor
November 15, 2007At a November 7, 2007, conference on the right to the effective assistance of counsel and the Supreme Court's 1984 decision in Strickland v. Washington, judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, legal scholars, and other experts discussed the challenge of ensuring effective counsel to indigent defendants, especially in capital cases. (more)Sentencing Bias
United Nations Experts Examine Racism in the United States
May 28, 2008On May 26, 2008, United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism Doudou Diene heard testimony from EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson as part of his field mission to examine racism in the United States. Mr. Stevenson detailed evidence of racial bias against African Americans, Latinos, and other racial minorities, from the administration of the death penalty to the treatment of children in the criminal justice system.EJI Appeals Conviction of Mother Sentenced to Life Without Parole After She Delivered Stillborn Baby
March 25, 2008EJI is appealing the conviction of Marsha Colby, a Baldwin County woman convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole for the death of her newborn son, despite strong evidence that the baby was stillborn. (more)Prisons and Sentencing Reform
EJI Wins Relief for Persons Sentenced to Die in Prison for Nonviolent Crimes
September 13, 2007 (more)Excessive Sentences
EJI Appeals Conviction of Mother Sentenced to Life Without Parole After She Delivered Stillborn Baby
March 25, 2008EJI is appealing the conviction of Marsha Colby, a Baldwin County woman convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole for the death of her newborn son, despite strong evidence that the baby was stillborn.EJI Wins Relief for Persons Sentenced to Die in Prison for Nonviolent Crimes
September 13, 2007 (more)Parole Reform
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