(FreePressBeacon.com) – In a literal life or death decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to review the controversial case of Texas death row inmate Ruben Gutierrez.
At the heart of this case lies the fundamental question of whether inmates have the constitutional right to access DNA testing that might prove their innocence.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Gutierrez’s appeal, challenging the constitutionality of Texas’s DNA testing statute.
Gutierrez, convicted for the brutal 1998 murder of Escolastica Harrison, has long argued that Texas law unfairly restricts access to potentially exculpatory DNA evidence.
His execution was halted minutes before its scheduled time, granting the court time to weigh in on his request.
The core argument presented by Gutierrez’s defense is that DNA testing could highlight critical evidence, possibly pointing to another suspect.
Without the acceptance of this testing, Gutierrez claims his due process rights have been severely violated, Reuters reports.
It’s a conviction based partly on a confession his attorneys assert was coerced through threats to his family.
In contrast, Cameron County prosecutors argue that the DNA evidence may not conclusively prove innocence due to the theory of multiple perpetrators.
They add that Gutierrez’s confession to planning the robbery was key evidence, although Gutierrez claims it was illegally obtained.
Despite several procedural delays, Gutierrez’s execution would not occur until the appeal is resolved.
As justification for his appeal, Gutierrez emphasizes the lack of physical or forensic evidence directly tying him to the crime.
His legal team has requested DNA testing for nearly 15 years, with the argument that the conviction would not have occurred had exculpatory DNA results been available.
Despite their battle, the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole unanimously denied his clemency application, MyRGV reports.
Both sides await the Supreme Court’s decision, which could set a precedent beyond Texas.
If the Court sides with Gutierrez, it would likely alter federal regulations regarding the criteria for DNA testing in post-conviction settings.
Gutierrez’s camp remains hopeful, citing this choice by the Supreme Court as an important step toward a fair justice system.
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