US Supreme Court to consider civil rights and DNA

The US Supreme Court today agreed to consider the civil rights of death row inmates with respect to DNA testing of evidence. In a case that may have broad implications around the country, the Court will consider the possibility that federal civil rights law may allow Henry Skinner to gain access to DNA testing of evidence that was not done during his trial – but that may well exonerate him of the 1993 Texas murder of his girlfriend and her two children. In the past – the Court has said that convicted criminals do not have the right to demand DNA testing – but this is the first case that considers a death row inmate trying to save his life.