The Supreme Court is considering throwing out death row inmate Richard Glossip’s murder conviction due to a key witness lying in court and prosecutors withholding information. Glossip was convicted in 1997 for arranging his boss’s murder, largely based on the testimony of the witness, Justin Sneed. The attorney general of Oklahoma, Gentner Drummond, has surprisingly sided with Glossip following an investigation into the case, despite not agreeing with Glossip’s innocence claim. Oral arguments suggest the court could rule in Glossip’s favor or order a new hearing on prosecutor conduct. The case revolves around claims that prosecutors failed to disclose information about Sneed’s mental health and false testimony, which impacted Glossip’s conviction. Despite Drummond’s findings, an appeals court upheld the death sentence, prompting scathing criticism from Justice Kagan. Justice Thomas hinted at keeping the conviction, raising concerns about investigation flaws and questioning the prosecutors’ involvement. The Supreme Court’s interest in Glossip’s case was shown by previous interventions to prevent his execution. Eight states have urged the court to uphold the Oklahoma ruling, arguing it should not interfere in state-specific matters. Justice Gorsuch recused himself from the case, possibly due to his prior involvement in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. A 4-4 division in the Supreme Court could leave the state court ruling intact.
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Supreme Court reviews crucial witness testimony supporting Oklahoma death row inmate’s conviction
