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Federal Appeals Court has rejected Troy Davis' application for a new trial. Davis is charged for the murder of a Savannah police officer in 1991. Davis has continuously maintained his innocence, and seven out of nine witnesses against Davis has now recanted their testimonies. Davis is currently in death row.
The news article did not mention the reason why the appeals court rejected Davis' application for a new trial, but even if the court had some legal justification for rejecting a new trial, I am still rationally puzzled to the court's decision. It might be the case that even if the seven out of the nine witnesses did indeed recanted their testimonies against Davis that the courts might not have legal authority in changing the course of the legal proceedings. However, this clearly shows a serious defect of our legal institutions, and it is time again for the courts to step up and make sure that Davis receives a fair trial. With most of the witnesses against Davis now changing their minds, something clearly went wrong in this particular legal proceeding
What makes this situation more heart wrenching is that Davis is facing execution for his alleged crimes. There have been many exonerated citizens who were unfortunately executed by the legal system, and their lives are permanently perished under the current purported justice. The courts must step up and transcend to its tradition, and make sure that a Davis is not mistakenly put to death. The courts initially did not recognize the humanity of a colored man, but later on the system recognized its faults and corrected itself for future judicial proceedings. This is a great and critical opportunity to save a potentially innocent man and to recognize and correct the errors in the current judicial system.
Please, someone with some conscious in our judiciary branch step up.
