The NAACP applauds the United States Supreme Court for ordering a federal judge in Georgia today to grant death row inmate Troy Davis an evidentiary hearing to prove his innocence. The evidentiary hearing would allow the testimony of seven witnesses who have recanted or contradicted their original eyewitness statements to be heard and examined in a court of law which has never been done before.
"Today is a great day for our justice system. The Supreme Court ruling allows a man many believe to be innocent, Troy Davis, to have his day in court. At long last, the courts will hear truthful and honest witness testimony that they were prevented from hearing in the original trial and allow law enforcement to dedicate their efforts to finding the real killer of Officer Mark MacPhail," stated Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACP President and CEO.
"We commend the Supreme Court for this just decision to step back from the brink of executing a man who is probably innocent. Troy Davis has spent 18 years on death row for a crime he likely didn't commit. Thanks to the wisdom of the Supreme Court he will get his long overdue day in court," says Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACP President and CEO. "It is the unjust reality of the death penalty in our nation that far too many innocent men who are poor or people of color are executed; a mistake that cannot be rectified. The Supreme Court's decision today affirms the integrity of our criminal justice system when it works as it should," concludes Jealous.
Troy Davis has been on death row for 18 years, convicted of killing Mark MacPhail, a white police officer in Savannah, Georgia.
"The Georgia State Conference is pleased with today's Supreme Court decision. Finally Troy Davis will be able to have a fair and balanced hearing to prove his innocence," says Edward Dubose, NAACP Georgia State Conference President.
"The NAACP along with many other groups have been working tirelessly on behalf of Troy and the MacPhail family to bring the real killer of Officer MacPhail to justice and to bring closure to both families," concluded Benjamin Todd Jealous.
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