So, not sure exactly what's all going on behind the scenes here tonight w/ Thomas Arthur's scheduled execution:https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/tommy-arthur-alabama-execution?utm_term=.aglBkawvV …
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Chief Justice John Roberts granted a "courtesy fifth," keeping Thomas Arthur of Alabama alive tonight.
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UPDATED
@BuzzFeedNews REPORT: Supreme Court Grants Stay Of Scheduled Alabama Execution —> https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/tommy-arthur-alabama-execution?utm_term=.gkR2Yk9xLQ …#SCOTUS#deathpenalty -
So, yeah, it was definitely a hectic night at
#SCOTUS. https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/tommy-arthur-alabama-execution?utm_term=.up4r32z4XA#.kuzMe7KwAv … / Here's my look at what we know about the vote:pic.twitter.com/CcV7XfcwWO
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So, that's what we KNOW. The speculation will run rampant. But, here's what I'm looking at: The terseness of the Chief's statement.
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Compare the Chief Justice tonight with Breyer's statement from his GG "courtesy fifth" earlier this year.pic.twitter.com/vO9NrMTZWL
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I count three times in that brief statement where the Chief tells the four who voted for a stay that they're wrong.pic.twitter.com/2jHtdnKWH0
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This suggests to me CJ either felt pressure to provide a courtesy fifth OR wanted to make sure everyone knew this rly was just a courtesy.
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IOW, it looks to me like he's either feeling pressure from the left inside the court or worried about pressure from the right outside.
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[I'm not sure which, although I started out almost certain it had to be an inside-the-court thing. Now, though, I'm not so sure.]
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He's overseeing an 8-person court, it's days before an election, and there are four justices on the liberal side. He's in a tough spot.
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Allowing an execution to proceed on a 4-4 vote — especially given the dissent that he could have been facing — could have been dramatic.
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Granting the fifth, w a terse statement letting everyone know he's unhappy about it, seems like an efficient move for him in all directions.
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@bradheath Someone needs to bottle up whatever lucky items Arthur has and mass produce/sell it. Would make fortune. -
How long has he been in prison for a murder he is unlikely to have committed? I wouldn't buy that luck.
@chrisgeidner@bradheath -
Unlikely to have committed? You realize that none of these appeals he continues to make even attempt-
End of conversation
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