sometimes the government gets it right, if some can show a compelling case for their innocence, they may appeal even though the time period for said appeal has expired.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court has ruled that a state prison inmate who has a strong claim of innocence may be allowed more time than normal to file a challenge to his conviction in federal court.
In a 5-4 decision on Tuesday, the court said that a 1996 law intended to speed appeals through the federal system should not prevent a prisoner with a convincing showing that he actually is innocent from making his case in court, even when he has missed the law's deadline for raising the claim.
A second case, also decided by a 5-4 vote, said that inmates on death row must have a chance somewhere in the appeals process to argue that their trial lawyers let them down.
http://news.yahoo.com/high-court-keeps-courts-open-innocence-claims-165017406.html
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court has ruled that a state prison inmate who has a strong claim of innocence may be allowed more time than normal to file a challenge to his conviction in federal court.
In a 5-4 decision on Tuesday, the court said that a 1996 law intended to speed appeals through the federal system should not prevent a prisoner with a convincing showing that he actually is innocent from making his case in court, even when he has missed the law's deadline for raising the claim.
A second case, also decided by a 5-4 vote, said that inmates on death row must have a chance somewhere in the appeals process to argue that their trial lawyers let them down.
http://news.yahoo.com/high-court-keeps-courts-open-innocence-claims-165017406.html