Death-Row Inmate Backed by State Divides Supreme Court (1)

It wasn’t obvious that the US Supreme Court will undo Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip’s death sentence even though the state’s Republican attorney general agrees that it should be undone.

The case argued Wednesday shows how difficult it is for capital defendants to win with the current 6-3 conservative majority, as Glossip has several hurdles to overcome before he can get a new trial.

The attorney general “did not confess error here lightly,” said Oklahoma’s attorney Paul Clement, referring to state Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s 2023 statement. In it, Drummond said he “cannot stand behind the murder conviction and death sentence” ...