By a vote of 7 – 2, the U.S. Supreme Court has thrown out the death sentence of Maryland death row inmate Kevin Wiggins, ruling that his inexperienced attorneys failed to adequately represent him at trial. Wiggins’ original lawyers made no attempt to inform members of the jury that sent Wiggins to death row that their client was repeatedly raped, beaten and denied food as a child, and that his mother burned his hands on the stove as punishment. In an opinion authored by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the Court said that if jurors knew the ghastly details of Wiggins’ childhood, they might have chosen a life sentence for Wiggins. Wiggins, who is borderline mentally retarded, will now receive a new sentencing hearing. Justices O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have publicly expressed qualms about the quality of legal help available to many people accused of murder.
(Associated Press, June 26, 2003). See Supreme Court.