Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

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10 Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty Cases

Burgundy box with the words "KANSAS DEATH PENALTY ON TRIAL"
Kansas
Feb 2024

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

Kansas v. Kyle Young

If the death penalty is racist, arbitrary and serves no valid penological purpose, does it violate the Kansas Constitution? The ACLU, together with the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµof Kansas and law firm Hogan Lovells US LLP, challenged the Kansas death penalty statute under the Kansas Constitution and United States Constitution in the case of Kansas v. Kyle Young. Mr. Young is a Black man who faced a capital trial in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Prosecutors sought a death sentence. The Sedgwick County District Court held an unprecedented evidentiary hearing in February 2023.
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Kansas V. Kyle Young. Explore Case.
Kansas
Feb 2024
Burgundy box with the words "KANSAS DEATH PENALTY ON TRIAL"

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

Kansas v. Kyle Young

If the death penalty is racist, arbitrary and serves no valid penological purpose, does it violate the Kansas Constitution? The ACLU, together with the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµof Kansas and law firm Hogan Lovells US LLP, challenged the Kansas death penalty statute under the Kansas Constitution and United States Constitution in the case of Kansas v. Kyle Young. Mr. Young is a Black man who faced a capital trial in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Prosecutors sought a death sentence. The Sedgwick County District Court held an unprecedented evidentiary hearing in February 2023.
Kansas V. Kyle Young. Explore Case.
Hasson Bacote posing in a football jersey.
North Carolina
Jun 2023

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

North Carolina Racial Justice Act Litigation (North Carolina v. Hasson Bacote)

Hasson Bacote is challenging his death sentence under the North Carolina Racial Justice Act (RJA), a first-of-its-kind law that allowed those sentenced to death to challenge their death sentences where race was a significant factor in decisions to seek or impose the death penalty at the time of their trials. Earlier this year, Mr. Bacote put forth evidence during a two-week hearing which showed that race played an impermissible role in jury selection not only in his own case, but across North Carolina statewide. The evidence presented at this landmark hearing will have significant implications for the over 130 people sentenced to death who filed similar claims under the Racial Justice Act.
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North Carolina Racial Justice Act Litigation (north Carolina V. Hasson Bacote). Explore Case.
North Carolina
Jun 2023
Hasson Bacote posing in a football jersey.

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

North Carolina Racial Justice Act Litigation (North Carolina v. Hasson Bacote)

Hasson Bacote is challenging his death sentence under the North Carolina Racial Justice Act (RJA), a first-of-its-kind law that allowed those sentenced to death to challenge their death sentences where race was a significant factor in decisions to seek or impose the death penalty at the time of their trials. Earlier this year, Mr. Bacote put forth evidence during a two-week hearing which showed that race played an impermissible role in jury selection not only in his own case, but across North Carolina statewide. The evidence presented at this landmark hearing will have significant implications for the over 130 people sentenced to death who filed similar claims under the Racial Justice Act.
North Carolina Racial Justice Act Litigation (north Carolina V. Hasson Bacote). Explore Case.
A photo of Dennis Glover
Court Case
Oct 2022

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

State of Florida v. Dennis Glover

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State Of Florida V. Dennis Glover. Explore Case.
Court Case
Oct 2022
A photo of Dennis Glover

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

State of Florida v. Dennis Glover

State Of Florida V. Dennis Glover. Explore Case.
Spradley v. State of Alabama
U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2015

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

Capital Punishment

Spradley v. State of Alabama

Montez Spradley, who was sentenced to death in Alabama for a 2004 murder he did not commit, was released from prison in September 2015. He had spent 9.5 years behind bars, 3.5 years of them on death row. He is 32 years old.
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Spradley V. State Of Alabama. Explore Case.
U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2015
Spradley v. State of Alabama

Racial Disparities and the Death Penalty

Capital Punishment

Spradley v. State of Alabama

Montez Spradley, who was sentenced to death in Alabama for a 2004 murder he did not commit, was released from prison in September 2015. He had spent 9.5 years behind bars, 3.5 years of them on death row. He is 32 years old.
Spradley V. State Of Alabama. Explore Case.
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