The U.S. Supreme Court, with Justice Samuel Alito writing his first opinion, unanimously ruled on May 1 that South Carolina had deprived Bobbie Lee Holmes of a fair trial when it prevented him from putting on evidence contradictory to the state’s case and that pointed to another possible suspect. South Carolina’s rule was that if the state had put on strong forensic evidence of the defendant’s guilt, the defendant could be prohibited from raising an alternative theory of a third party’s guilt. Justice Alito found this rule to be arbitrary and irrational, writing: “The point is that by evaluating the strength of only one party’s evidence, no logical conclusion can be reached regarding the strength of contrary evidence offered by the other side to rebut or cast doubt.” A coalition of 18 states, led by Attorney General Phill Kline of Kansas, had filed a brief in support of South Carolina’s position.

HOLMES V. SOUTH CAROLINA, No. 04-1327 (May 1, 2006). (NY Times, May 2, 2006). Read the Court’s opinion. See Supreme Court and Innocence.