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Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for 48 Years Officially Declared Innocent
In a landmark decision, an Oklahoma judge has exonerated Glynn Simmons, a man who spent nearly 48 years behind bars for a murder he did not commit. The case marks the longest known wrongful sentence in U.S. history.
Simmons, now 71, was released from prison in July after a district court ruled that crucial evidence was withheld from his defense during his 1975 trial. On Tuesday, Judge Amy Palumbo went a step further, declaring Simmons officially innocent of the 1974 liquor store robbery murder for which he was wrongly convicted.
“This court finds by clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Simmons was not guilty of the offense for which he was convicted,” said Judge Palumbo in her historic ruling.
Simmons, his voice choked with emotion, told reporters, “It’s a lesson in resilience and tenacity. Don’t let nobody tell you that it can’t happen, because it really can.”
Simmons’ ordeal began in 1975 when, at the age of 22, he was sentenced to death alongside co-defendant Don Roberts for the murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers. Their sentences were later commuted to life in prison due to Supreme Court rulings on the death penalty.
Simmons steadfastly maintained his innocence, insisting he was in his home state of Louisiana at the time of the crime. His sentence was finally overturned in July after the court found that prosecutors withheld crucial evidence, including witness identification of other suspects.
The original conviction relied heavily on the testimony of a traumatized teenager who had been shot in the head during the robbery. The teenager’s identification of Simmons was unreliable, as she had also identified several other men in line-ups and later contradicted her own statements.
While co-defendant Roberts was paroled in 2008, Simmons’ fight for justice continued. He is now battling liver cancer and faces an uncertain future. Wrongfully convicted individuals in Oklahoma are eligible for up to $175,000 in compensation, but it’s unclear how much support Simmons will receive beyond the online fundraising efforts that have raised thousands for his medical bills.
Colorado Court Rules Trump Cannot Appear on 2024 Ballot
In a landmark ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified Tuesday December 19 Donald Trump from appearing on the state’s presidential primary ballot, citing his involvement in the January 6th Capitol attack. This unexpected decision throws the 2024 presidential race into uncertainty and could have significant implications for the entire Republican Party.
The justices based their decision on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits individuals who have engaged in insurrection from holding any federal office. They argued that Trump’s actions on January 6th constituted an insurrection, disqualifying him from seeking the presidency again.
Trump’s campaign swiftly condemned the ruling and vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. They accused the Colorado court of bias and claimed the decision was politically motivated.
“We will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court and a concurrent request for a stay of this deeply undemocratic decision,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Supporters of the ruling, however, celebrated it as a victory for democracy.
“This is a huge moment for democracy,” said Noah Bookbinder, of the campaign group Citizens for Ethics, which brought the case. “The court has sent a clear message that no one is above the law, not even the former president.”
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision is likely to face further legal challenges, and its ultimate impact on the 2024 election remains unclear. If upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, it could significantly disrupt the Republican primary and potentially boost the Democratic Party’s chances in the general election.
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