Mumia Abu-Jamal

Von: < RobertRBryan@aol.com >

Betreff: Mumia Abu-Jamal -

Legal Update on

U.S. Supreme Court [please circulate]

Datum: Dienstag, 16. Dezember 2008 05:18

 

Legal Update

 

 

Date: December 15, 2008

From: Robert R. Bryan, lead counsel

Subject: U.S. Supreme Court developments regarding Mumia Abu-Jamal, death

row Introduction Mumia Abu-Jamal remains on Pennsylvania’s death row. Last

week marked the 27th anniversary of his unjust imprisonment. Racism, fraud and

politics have been threads that have run through the case since its

inception, and continue today.

 

We are in extensive litigation on two fronts before the United States

Supreme Court. The prosecution is continuing it quest for the execution of my

client. In a separate case before the court, I am seeking an entirely new trial

and Mumia’s freedom. Based upon my experience in having successfully

represented numerous people in murder cases involving the death penalty, I am

convinced that we can win if I can just get it back before a jury.

U.S. Supreme Court The following is a brief overview of recent developments

and filing deadlines:

 

Beard v. Abu-Jamal, U.S. Sup. Ct. No. 08-652 On November 14, 2008, the

Philadelphia District Attorney filed in the U.S. Supreme Court a petition

seeking to overturn the victory we achieved earlier this year in the U.S. Court

of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Abu-Jamal v. Horn, 520 F.3d 272 (3rd Cir.

2008). In that ruling court ordered a new jury trial on the question of the

death penalty. Our Brief In Opposition is scheduled to be filed on January

21, 2009.

 

Abu-Jamal v. Beard, U.S. Sup. Ct. No. 08A299 The Petition for Writ of

Certiorari will be filed on December 19, 2008. The issues concern the

prosecution’s use of racism in jury selection. Relief was denied last spring by a

sharply divided federal court. This is of great constitutional significance as

reflected by the extraordinary dissenting opinion of Justice Thomas L.

Ambro. Abu-Jamal v. Horn, 520 F.3d at 304-320. He reaffirmed the bedrock

principle that everyone is entitled to a fair and impartial trial by a jury of his

or her peers, and that excluding even a single person from a jury because of

race violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution’s

Fourteenth Amendment.

 

Conclusion This is a life and death struggle to save Mumia. He is in

greater danger than at any time since being arrested. Your support and activism

is needed. That Mumia remains in prison and on death row is an affront to

basic human rights. We must aggressively continue this struggle until he is

free.

 

Yours very truly,

Robert R. Bryan

Law Offices of Robert R. Bryan

2088 Union Street, Suite 4

San Francisco, California 94123-4117

Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal

[E-mail:RobertRBryan@aol.com

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