A North Carolina judge ruled in favor of Hasson Bacote, a Black man facing the death penalty, finding evidence of racial bias during jury selection in his trial. This decision could potentially lead to the resentencing of many death row inmates in the state. Bacote’s case was the lead in testing the Racial Justice Act of 2009, which allows condemned inmates to seek resentencing if they can prove racial bias played a role in their cases. Superior Court Judge Wayland Sermons Jr. ruled in Bacote’s favor, leading to his death sentence being commuted to life in prison by Governor Roy Cooper. The Racial Justice Act was initially repealed in 2013 but those who filed challenges under the law could still pursue litigation. Bacote’s lawyers argued that racial discrimination in jury selection compromised his case and others in Johnston County. Prosecutors were found to have been more likely to strike Black jurors at a higher rate than white jurors during Bacote’s trial. The judge referenced biased terms used by prosecutors, such as “thug,” in his ruling. The decision highlights the impact of racial bias in the criminal justice system and provides a path to justice for those facing the death penalty. Former state Attorney General Josh Stein led the charge against Bacote’s case, but has since been elected as governor. North Carolina has not executed anyone since 2006 due to legal disputes and challenges obtaining lethal injection drugs.
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