In a 6-2 ruling, the United State Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Duane Buck. Justice Thomas and Justice Alito dissented.
According to the New York Times, the Court indicated the case as was riddled with “particularly noxious strains of racial prejudice.” Specifically, a psychologist testified that Black defendants were more dangerous than white ones.
While this is a Texas case, we know that race has historically played a role in death penalty cases in North Carolina. The racial bias in North Carolina death penalty cases was strongly documented through the Racial Justice Act cases that are still being litigated. This is yet another example of why it is time for North Carolina to reexamine our continued use of the death penalty.
Read more on this important ruling.
