The Supreme Court rejected the use of "racial stereotypes" in death penalty cases Wednesday, reopening the case of a black man in Texas who was sentenced to die after his jury was told African Americans are more likely than whites to commit crimes. "Our laws punish people for what they do, not for who they are," the chief justice said in the courtroom. After hearing this testimony, the jury decided to sentence Buck to death. The court sent the case back to judges in Texas to reconsider the death sentence. "Having settled on a desired outcome, the court bulldozes procedural obstacles and misapplies settled law to justify it," he wrote.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 22, 2017 16:11 UTC