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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| Philadelphia Asks Entire 3rd Circuit Court to Recuse Itself From Abu-Jamal Case |
| 2007-04-09 |
| Prosecutors want the entire 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to recuse itself from the latest appeal for death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal because Gov. Ed Rendell - whose wife serves on the court - was district attorney during his trial. Abu-Jamal, a former radio reporter and Black Panther, was convicted in 1982 of killing a police officer. In his latest appeal, his attorneys say prosecutors practiced racial discrimination during jury selection; an allegation prosecutors deny. "Since Mr. Rendell was the elected district attorney at the time in question, and so would have been responsible for the supposed 'routine' racially discriminatory practices of Philadelphia prosecutors, Abu-Jamal's accusations necessarily implicate Mr. Rendell personally," Assistant District Attorney Hugh J. Burns Jr. wrote in a motion last week. A federal judge in 2001 overturned Abu-Jamal's death sentence but upheld his conviction. Both sides appealed that ruling to the 3rd Circuit, whose members include the governor's wife, Marjorie O. Rendell. Prosecutors could simply ask for Judge Rendell to recuse herself but they want to avoid any possible grounds for a future appeal. Abu-Jamal was convicted in the Dec. 9, 1981, shooting death officer Daniel Faulkner after the officer pulled over Abu-Jamal's brother. He remains on death row during the appeals. His writings and taped speeches on the justice system have made Abu-Jamal a popular figure among activists who believe he was the victim of a racist justice system. Abu-Jamal is black; Faulkner was white. Abu-Jamal's lawyer, Robert R. Bryan of San Francisco, opposes Byrne's motion, according to court records. He did not return telephone messages seeking comment. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #6 I agree, Rendell should recuse himself. He is the worst governor we've ever had and we can't get rid of him because he gives stuff away by the carload for votes, then raises taxes. Ed Rendell is a total failure. He hasn't accomplished shit in the statehouse but introduction of donkey style corruption. Thanks, Ed, please stop breathing. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-04-09 21:44 |
| #5 #3: "That he was stone cold guilty seems not to bother them in the least..." It never does, tu. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-04-09 21:09 |
| #4 Fry Mumia! |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2007-04-09 19:23 |
| #3 His writings and taped speeches on the justice system have made Abu-Jamal a popular figure among activists who believe he was the victim of a racist justice system. That he was stone cold guilty seems not to bother them in the least... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-04-09 15:14 |
| #2 I'm reminded I forgot to report I took some Direct Action the other day. In my local Barnes and Noble, their "Young Adult" section was featuring an end cap of notable biographies... with all the usual suspects ... and "Nobel Peace Prize Nominee" Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Gah. The Tookie books found themselves being redistributed throughout the bookstore, away from the YA section. Take that, The Man! |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-04-09 15:11 |
| #1 Fry mumia... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2007-04-09 11:35 |