Death by Dehumanization: Prosecutorial Narratives of Death-Sentenced Women and LGBTQ Prisoners
Prosecutorial narratives about women and LGBTQ persons facing a sentence of death often invoke pernicious stereotypes, asking juries to sentence a person to death for who they are, rather than what they’ve done. This article proposes a jurisprudence focused on the harm to the individual, rather than whether the bias infected the entirety of the proceedings.
Hofstra Law Review Symposia Issues
The Hofstra Law Review, under the guidance of Professor Eric Freedman, is at the forefront of developing scholarship supporting the ongoing work of the capital trial, appeal, postconviction, and habeas community. When the ABA has updated or supplemented its Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases, the Hofstra Law Review assembles the best of the best litigators and scholars to help the capital defense community implement these standards in their practice.
Maria Isa, State v. Isa, 850 S.W.2d 876 (Mo. 1993)
Isa was convicted and sentenced to death, along with her husband, in the stabbing death of their 16-year-old daughter Palestina Isa. On direct appeal, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned her death sentence because of errors in the penalty phase instruction on aggravating circumstances.
Reginald Griffin, State v. Griffin, 848 S.W.2d 464 (Mo. 1993)
Griffin was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1983 murder of inmate James Bausely when they were incarcerated at the Moberly Training Center for Men. On direct appeal, the Missouri Supreme Court reversed his sentence of death because the State admitted a record of conviction for a different person named Reginald Griffin.
Eric Clemmons, Clemmons v. Delo, 124 F.3d 944 (8th Cir. 1997)
Clemmons was convicted and sentenced to death in 1987 for killing Henry Johnson, a prisoner at the Missouri State Penitentiary, when Clemmons was incarcerated there. After granting rehearing by panel, the Eighth Circuit overturned Clemmons’ conviction and death sentence.