Death penalty appeal refused

TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2002

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by the state of Texas in a death penalty case.

The decision lets stand a Texas state court ruling which said Calvin J. Burdine was entitled to a new trial because of bad lawyering. His attorney reportedly slept through parts of the 1983 proceeding.

The state wanted Burdine's death penalty murder conviction reinstated.

Get the Story:
Justices Won't Reinstate Conviction in 'Sleeping Lawyer' Case (The Washington Post 6/4)
Court allows retrial due to sleeping attorney (The Washington Times 6/4)
Inmate Whose Lawyer Slept Gets New Trial (The New York Times 6/4)
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