Montgomery, Ala., — One of Alabama’s longest-serving death row inmates could soon receive a new trial after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the state’s appeal of a lower court ruling that prosecutors violated his rights by intentionally rejecting potential black jurors.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review a summer ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The decision paves the way for Michael Sockwell, 63, to receive a new trial.
“We appreciate the Supreme Court’s decision,” Michael Rayfield, one of Sockwell’s attorneys, said in a statement. “Michael has been denied his right to a fair trial for more than 35 years. We will continue to fight for his freedom.”
Sockwell was convicted in the 1990 murder of Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy Isaiah Harris. Harris was shot in the face in 1988 on his way to work in what prosecutors described as a murder-for-hire arranged by Harris’ wife.
Court of Appeal in June He issued a 2-1 opinion Finding Alabama prosecutors violated Sockwell’s Fourteenth Amendment rights by deliberately rejecting potential black jurors who were thought to be more sympathetic to him.
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office sought review of this decision but the Supreme Court denied the petition.
A federal judge said in November that prosecutors must take steps by March 18 to pursue a new trial or Sockwell will be released from prison. A spokeswoman for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said Monday that the office intends to retry the case but declined additional comment.
The jury that convicted Sockwell voted 7 to 5 to recommend life imprisonment, but the judge overrode that recommendation and imposed a death sentence. Alabama No longer allowed Judges to override jury verdict in capital cases.
Harris’ wife was convicted of capital murder. She was initially sentenced to death but the sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment.