Supreme Court denies Mumia a new trial
posted at 2:07 pm on April 6, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Left-wing cause Mumia Abu-Jamal will not get a new trial for his murder conviction, although his sentence remains in limbo. The Supreme Court refused to grant certiorari to Mumia today on his appeal based on racial composition of his jury:
Mumia Abu-Jamal has lost his bid for a new trial in the killing of a Philadelphia police officer in 1981.
The Supreme Court said Monday it will not take up Abu-Jamal’s claims that prosecutors improperly excluded blacks from the jury that convicted him of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. …
Since Abu-Jamal’s 1982 conviction, activists in the United States and Europe have rallied in support of his claims that he was the victim of a racist justice system. Abu-Jamal, 54, has kept his case in the spotlight through books and radio broadcasts.
Which kind of “activists” are those? I wonder what Markos Moulitsas would have to say about that. I don’t see many conservatives in the “Free Mumia” movement.
Despite the rhetoric from such activists, Mumia’s guilt is not in doubt. Shaun Mullen, definitely a progressive blogger and a Philly journalist at the time of the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner, has written extensively about the crime, the trial, and the aftermath. While he does criticize the prosecution, Shaun never swallowed the Kool-Aid of a supposed frame-up. Mumia is guilty as hell.
The Supreme Court has not ruled on the appeal of the Third Circuit’s revocation of Mumia’s death sentence. Prosecutors want it reinstated, but thus far the Supreme Court hasn’t even agreed to hear that appeal.
Jammie Wearing Fool has more thoughts on the story.
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Isn’t he dead already?
Mazztek on April 6, 2009 at 2:08 PM
I can’t top this sentiment.
landshark on April 6, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Kos! Calling Kos!
As for me, I hope Mumia fries. He deserves it.
Vanceone on April 6, 2009 at 2:10 PM
28 years later, he is still breathing. Pathetic.
Vashta.Nerada on April 6, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Almost all cop-killers are liberals.
jaime on April 6, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Fry Mumia.
NoDonkey on April 6, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Rot in jail.
Burn in hell.
For eternity.
carbon_footprint on April 6, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Jail or death penalty. Whichever he suffers the most.
Wethal on April 6, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Theyr’re jsut tryin’ to keep another cop killer down!
maladapted on April 6, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Good. When I first looked at this case, I thought that he will die in prison whether he was executed or not.
Have fun in prison. RIP Ofc Daniel Faulkner, Philadelphia PD.
KillerKane on April 6, 2009 at 2:14 PM
he’s not dead yet??? wow….
Drunk Report on April 6, 2009 at 2:14 PM
A sigh of relief that the Supreme Court is still, somewhat, within the realm of sanity.
It seems like all else is spinning out of control.
myrenovations on April 6, 2009 at 2:17 PM
This scum’s not worth spending another penny on, to send him to the electric chair. Just give a shank to another prisoner and do it the quick way.
Same with Einhorn, another murderer who was a cause celebe’ with the Left.
What is it with Leftists and their love affair with murderers?
rbj on April 6, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Sometimes I really have to wonder who is worse…
…cop killers or those who SUPPORT cop-killers.
More and more I tend to believe it’s those who SUPPORT them.
Religious_Zealot on April 6, 2009 at 2:18 PM
No doubt rbj was on the other thread clutching pearls over the notion that anyone would connect one murderer with a whole political philosophy.
Mumia did it. I’m against the death penalty (aw Ed, we agree on something) so I think he should just be in jail forever, but dude did it.
DeathToMediaHacks on April 6, 2009 at 2:19 PM
I thought this animal had already been put down, honestly.
“Through radio broadcasts”??? What sort of penal system allows inmates to broadcast over radio, or is it a prison-only system?
Bishop on April 6, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Can’t believe this guy is still alive.
joe_doufu on April 6, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Make no mistake, the cop killers are worse.
PBoilermaker on April 6, 2009 at 2:20 PM
I add one word to this Why isn’t he dead already?
My god he killed a cop and over 25 years later this waste of humanity sill lives and breathes. Where is the justice? Can’t we just fry this guy and move on instead of making a celebrity out of this scum.
kanda on April 6, 2009 at 2:20 PM
………. just wait, it’s coming.
Seven Percent Solution on April 6, 2009 at 2:20 PM
In the spirit of DailyKos referring to the Stormfront cop-killer as a “neo-con, we should start referring to Mumia as a “typical Obama supporter”.
Realist on April 6, 2009 at 2:20 PM
LOL-There, fixed it for ya, Ed.
Its just a shame this low-life murderer has been able to manipulate the legal system as long as he has.
-Dave
Dave R. on April 6, 2009 at 2:21 PM
He isn’t dead yet?
A shame.
MadisonConservative on April 6, 2009 at 2:21 PM
No doubt rbj was on the other thread clutching pearls over the notion that anyone would connect one murderer with a whole political philosophy.
Odd, I saw the words “cause celeb”, what were you reading?
Bishop on April 6, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Ed Asner and Susan Sarandon were unavailable for comment.
JammieWearingFool on April 6, 2009 at 2:23 PM
I’ll take my Mumia extra-crispy.
steveegg on April 6, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Understand, I in no way, shape or form, am “excusing” or “soft pedaling” the evil inherit in cold bloodily killing a police officer.
That said, I think it just might be MORE evil to lift up and support such people and make them out to be heroes.
Cop killers kill cops.
Bu supporters of cop killers create MORE cop killers.
Religious_Zealot on April 6, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Distorting my point. Mainstream liberals have defended Mumia in terms of innocence. Conservatives have never defended people like Timothy McVeigh, even if there is some common ground in being suspicious of government.
rbj on April 6, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Good. Glad to hear it.
Pa is a death penalty state and 1 of the conditions for giving the death penalty is if it was a killing of a police officer.
becki51758 on April 6, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Absolutely
jdkchem on April 6, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Rot in jail, burn in hell.
mchristian on April 6, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Doesn’t he have a date with the hangman?
Tommy_G on April 6, 2009 at 2:31 PM
I have a rifle, and at least one bullet.
Just saying….
sonofdy on April 6, 2009 at 2:34 PM
You ask what the slimy Daily Kos and Markos (currently pretending to care about murdered cops and blaming conservatives.) thinks… well from past stories on the cop killer Mumia, it appears…
MANY DEMOCRATS, LEFTISTS AND LIBERALS DON’T JUST LOVE COP KILLERS, THEY HERO WORSHIP THEM.
Holding my nose I “visited” the DAILY KOS HATE SITE DOT COM…
Searching for stories I found 117 featuring this scum bag. Only one seemed to be anti the convicted COP KILLER. From what I can see the slimy Markos has given a platform for deranged supporters of an evil COP KILLER for the poast six years.
Here’s just a few titles supporting Cop Killer Mumia
Jack Bauer on April 6, 2009 at 2:37 PM
There’s no chance of a pardon. While the President does have the unlimited power to do so, he never acts without advice. Pardoning a cop killer would be extremely controversial. Not going to happen.
Besides, what would Mumia ever do if he was pardoned? Does he think he’d do the lecture circuit? Does he think he’ll be like Bill Ayers and become a community activist or professor? On the day he left prison, every cop in 100 miles would meet him at the gate, with less than pleasant results for him.
KillerKane on April 6, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Fry Mumia
GunRunner on April 6, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Why are we still spending good tax money to keep this guy alive? If you don’t want to execute him just drop him in the middle of the ocean, and remind him of the old saying, “You’re never more than two miles from land.” If he makes it, he can speak at any school he wants, in person!
Gwillie on April 6, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Sad to say, but he’d probably be offered a position at some ultra-liberal college teaching African-American studies or some such manure.
Religious_Zealot on April 6, 2009 at 2:41 PM
In fact it becomes quite easy. If they want to play that game and libel conservatives saying they endorse cop killers then I say hit back. Some will remember this story.
Woman raped Obama supporters do nothing
jdkchem on April 6, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Adjoining office with ward churchill.
jdkchem on April 6, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Unless he did what Assata Shakur/JoAnne Chezimard, who escaped from a New Jersey prison where she was serving a sentence for killing a state trooper in 1973 and fled to Cuba, Mumia would be a marked man wherever he went. Every cop in the country would want a piece of him.
KillerKane on April 6, 2009 at 2:45 PM
damn…you can hear the panties starting to bunch up in Hollywood over this decision…I am sure that Gwyneth Paltrow will claim that the shampoo he used as a child made him do what he did..
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2223496/posts
mldlalex on April 6, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Not saying they wouldn’t.
But in a world where Deb Frisch had a PhD and until recently taught at a university…
…and where Ward Churchill and William Ayers are martyrs and experts in their fields…
…Mumbia would have no problem finding a job.
Religious_Zealot on April 6, 2009 at 2:48 PM
You’re correct that there’s no chance of a presidential pardon, but for a different reason. The president only has unlimited power to pardon in federal cases. This murdering POS was tried and convicted in Pennsylvania courts for a violation of Pennsylvania law. The president has absolutely no power to pardon those convicted by the states.
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 2:49 PM
If they don’t reinstate the death sentence, he will get another penalty trial which will allow him to appeal his sentence for another 30 years, the way Penn does things. The number of cops killed in the LID in Penn is horrible.
Blake on April 6, 2009 at 2:51 PM
…at least not yet!
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 2:51 PM
And yet, rbj isn’t connecting it to a political philosophy. Wondering why liberals tend to support men like this is not at all the same as claiming liberalism supports men like this.
It’s true. Liberals are more likely to believe “the man” is holding someone down, even if the someone is a convicted cop killer.
Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to side with the cops, even when it’s foolish to do so, making idiot Kos’s comment even more idiotic.
Esthier on April 6, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Free Mumia. Get ya free Mumia here! One per cutomer!!
emerson7 on April 6, 2009 at 2:53 PM
There is no crime or act disgusting enough to prevent the awards and opportunities, being piled on lefties except for one: failure to toe the leftard line.
Blake on April 6, 2009 at 2:53 PM
How many police officers, of all different races, have died because of the liberal defense and support of Mumia’s utterly false claims of innocence and victimhood at the hands of the prosecuter’s office? They lie and demonize all police.
Jvette on April 6, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Good point. Somehow I doubt the Governor of Pennsylvania would pardon Mumia. As the state’s chief executive, he would ruin his reputation among the Commonwealth’s law enforcement agencies. Especially now after three Pittsburgh police officers died this weekend.
KillerKane on April 6, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Who says they were Obama supporters? The article only says they were transit workers.
Esthier on April 6, 2009 at 3:00 PM
I think you’re right on this, especially considering that Gov. Rendell was the District Attorney of Philadelphia at the time of the murder of Officer Faulkner and it was his office who tried Mumia and pushed for, and got, the death penalty.
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Rendell was the DA at the time? Mumia is doomed!
KillerKane on April 6, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Yeah, but what about that other fool who could pardon Mumia?
President Obama.
What will his ‘prompter tell him to do?
seanrobins on April 6, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Yep. Not only that but in May, 2008,Rendell pledged to sigen Mumia’s death warrant once the Supreme Court rules on the reinstatement of his death penalty.
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 3:07 PM
seanrobins on April 6, 2009 at 3:06 PM
As noted, the President has absolutely no authority to pardon people convicted in state courts of state crimes. At least not yet…it’s that nuisance Constitution thing.
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Ms. Paltrow’s thesis is moot. Look at that pig Abu-Jamal — does he look like he ever washed that rat’s nest on his head??
D2Boston on April 6, 2009 at 3:12 PM
I say Jail. With hard labor involved.
The death penalty would the easy way out. After all, death is ultimately the same fate that all of us face. As a murderer, his fate should be made more unpleasant.
UltimateBob on April 6, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Tore up my knee yesterday so i’m pissed at the world. I just smiled for the 1st time in 24 hrs. Rot in hell murderer!
faol on April 6, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Agreed. I think in Mumia’s case just taking away his ability to communicate with the outside world, publish his rants, air them on the radio, make remote college commencement addresses, etc would be the worst form of punishment for him. Relegate him to an incarcerated life of ignominy and anonymity
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Can’t force prisoners to perform hard labor.
If it were the easy way out, 99.9% of these cockroaches on deathrow would waive their appeals and be executed. They don’t.
Blake on April 6, 2009 at 3:18 PM
FTW!
29Victor on April 6, 2009 at 3:30 PM
The French named a street in Paris after this scumbag murderer.
But it is all because he has regular features.
The idiots on his “side” are only there because he is seen as cute.
If Mumia resembled Idi Amin or a chinless Erkel geek, he’d have been gassed years ago.
Suckers are attracted by his smooth facade.
One can only hope a rat gnaws through his jugular one night in his cell, for some poetic justice, at least.
profitsbeard on April 6, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Time for Barry to step in with a presidential pardon.
Kuffar on April 6, 2009 at 3:45 PM
How do you figure that? Do they do some kind of quiz to determine their political leanings after arrest? What they are is dirty rotten low down rat snake pieces of dirt that don’t deserve to breathe the same air as law abiding citizens, not matter their political persuasion.
Sue on April 6, 2009 at 3:46 PM
This is going to enrage the hollywood folks! I’m with Mike Farrell and Ed Asner, I think one of them should adopt mumia and take him home with them. It’s funny that celebs always defend the scum that have proven that they don’t belong in a civilised society. When was the last time celebs lauded the highest scoring high school student that didn’t get into trouble? Would our society be better or worse off?
Dadzilla on April 6, 2009 at 3:58 PM
For the last time…there is no way that Obama can pardon Mumia. He’s forbidden by the Constitution from issuing pardons in state cases.
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Not sure that alone would stop him.
Esthier on April 6, 2009 at 4:08 PM
pretty pathetic we’re going on 28 years after being sentenced to death and he’s still alive. kill him already
Vegi on April 6, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Oh sure, I wouldn’t put it past the great constitutional lawyer in chief to try it. But I’d guarantee a 9-0 slapdown by the Supreme Court if he did.
Trafalgar on April 6, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Good. Now march him into the chamber and carry out his original sentence.
Vic on April 6, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Gang, I have to tell you a story which has to do with Jamal. When I was being indoctrinated at UCONN-I-STAN, my media professor Paul Jalbert, wanted me to do a report about Abu-Jamal, AKA Wesley Cook. It was so convenient that I was working with someone who would have some knowledge about this cop killing black man, a liberal black woman from Philly.
I was working for an NPR station at the time here in CT-Stan…YES I SAID NPR…as a Production Assistant part-time while I was also in school. The woman, Tandi Wilder, worked in Philly, her hometown before coming East to CT-Stan. She worked for NPR’s WHYY Radio. Back when Abu-Jamal was doing commentaries before becoming a leftist fascist cause celebre, the station was called WUHY.
Wilder helped me a little bit with this “report” I did for my class, which in essence was a letter of support to him. Since that time, I have wised up, and have joined the Maureen Faulkner team in spirit. Maureen is Danny Faulkner’s widow, whose own life is in danger thanks to these black panther punk ass fascist bigots.
As for the “report” which I got an A on–I HAVE SHREDDED IT ERASING IT FROM MY MEMORIES; a part of my purging myself from the propaganda that was UCONN-I-STAN.
Wilder and I are no longer on speaking terms because of my change from liberal to conservative to indie/Libertarian politics and some emails I sent with conservative articles, mainly blasting liberals and women in sports. She is back in NPR, at their Miami station WLRN-FM.
And all I can say to you Mumia Abu-Jamal is…DIE ALREADY! And to his supporters, YOU ARE ALL TRAITORS!
BobAnthony on April 6, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Why not? They are, after all, basically a death cult.
trigon on April 6, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Mazztek on April 6, 2009 at 2:08 PM
There ya go.
PappaMac on April 6, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Don’t worry. Obama will find some way to pardon him. Yes I know he was found guilty in the state courts but change is everything.
davod on April 6, 2009 at 7:46 PM
This talk of a pardon worries me. I know Fast Ed Rendell was the prosecutor and was willing to sign the death warrant, but what if Obama strong arms him? I mean Obama isn’t above this kind of BS. Rendell could pardon right?
Jvette on April 6, 2009 at 7:51 PM
This guy has been alive for 27 years too many.
Just fry him and get it over with.
SCOOPTHIScarlos on April 7, 2009 at 3:23 AM
My limited understanding of the constitution proscribes cruel and unusual punishments. While Ed may argue that the death penalty is cruel, he certainly can’t suggest that it’s unusual. It must be both to be unconstitutional. That’s not to say that some future Ogabe-packed court wouldn’t find a “penumbra” on which to hang that hat.
My opinion is worth what you paid for it, but I want that punk bastard dead (Mumia, not Ed). Clear enough?
SKYFOX on April 7, 2009 at 8:14 AM
This a$$hole intentionally kills a cop and he’s a hero to the left. One crazed extreme right wing nut job kills cops and the entire right sided world are crazed paranoid murderers to the moonbats. Plus, don’t forget the “hero” out in Oakland that gunned down four cops and he’s being hailed out there too.
Big John on April 7, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Just think how many years this maggot has been breathing your and my air. The justice system in this country sucks!
FRY MUMIA !
Deacon on April 7, 2009 at 1:15 PM
With lots of BBQ sauce, chips on the side, and an A&W.
That’s the Philly way!
JohnGalt23 on April 7, 2009 at 3:42 PM