Top Court Stays Texas Death Row (Black) Inmate Execution

At sentencing, jurors heard testimony from the psychologist, Walter Quijano, who was called by the defense. He said under questioning by prosecutors that his research showed black men were more likely to offend again if they were let out of prison.

The Supreme Court gave a reprieve on Thursday to a Texas death row inmate in a case tinged by racial controversy, granting a stay more than 90 minutes after the scheduled time of his execution.

The high court issued the stay of execution for Duane Buck, 48, who had been scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection at 6 p.m. local time in Huntsville, Texas, for a pair of shotgun murders in 1995 in Houston.

Lawyers for Buck, who is black, appealed to the Supreme Court and said he had been unfairly sentenced because a psychologist testified that black men were more likely than other races to be repeat offenders after their release from prison.

Upon hearing the news, Buck told prison officials: “Praise the Lord, God is worthy to be praised. God’s mercy triumphs over judgment. I feel good,” according to Jason Clark of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

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2011-09-15