Supreme Court rejects final appeal by Mumia Abu-Jamal

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling could signal the end of appeals for convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. But his attorney is not giving up.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling could signal the end of appeals for convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. But his attorney is not giving up.

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[audio: reports20090406mumia.mp3]

The U.S. Supreme Court will not grant a new trial to Mumia Abu-Jamal on the grounds that prosecutors excluded African-Amercians from the jury that convicted him. Abu-Jamal’s attorney Robert Bryan says he’s filing for reconsideration, but it’s unusual for the Supreme Court to hear such cases.

Still, he says there is substantial evidence of racism in jury selection.

Bryan: In this case we were surprised simply because the evidence of racism by the prosecution is so well documented in Philadelphia and certainly in this case.

District Attorney Lynne Abraham says she hopes the courts would not take up any more challenges to the conviction.

Abraham: It would be my hope that the courts would say after 26 years you had your day in court you had your decades in court we’re not going to entertain any more of your motions.

The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned the death sentence in the case, but an appeal is pending before the Supreme Court.