Supreme Court Considers If Death Row Inmate Deserves New Sentencing

The Supreme Court grappled with the case of an Arizona death row inmate on April 17 who claims he received ineffective assistance from counsel during the sentencing process.

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to effective assistance of counsel. At issue in this case is whether a federal appeals court properly weighed the evidence –both mitigating and aggravating as to the inmate— before ruling that respondent Danny Lee Jones was prejudiced by an ineffective attorney during sentencing.

In the case, Arizona is appealing a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that the condemned man was entitled to a new sentencing hearing. The prisoner contends that his lawyer failed to secure a mental health expert and conduct appropriate medical tests in a timely manner during sentencing.

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