Accessibility links
Supreme Court - Death Penalty Case The Supreme Court ruled today against a convicted murderer who said his lawyer hadn't represented him adequately. In a case from Virginia, Walter Mickens, Jr. argued that because his lawyer had previously represented the murder victim in another case, the lawyer could not have given Mickens effective counsel. The justices ruled 5-4 that Mickens did have adequate counsel and denied him a new trial. Mickens has been sentenced to death. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

All Things Considered

Supreme Court - Death Penalty Case

Heard on All Things Considered

Supreme Court - Death Penalty Case

Listen · 4:58
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1140652/140652" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

The Supreme Court ruled today against a convicted murderer who said his lawyer hadn't represented him adequately. In a case from Virginia, Walter Mickens, Jr. argued that because his lawyer had previously represented the murder victim in another case, the lawyer could not have given Mickens effective counsel. The justices ruled 5-4 that Mickens did have adequate counsel and denied him a new trial. Mickens has been sentenced to death. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.