Death row inmate points to biased juror as execution nears
Posted November 13, 2019 10:41 am.
NASHVILLE — As Tennessee prepares to electrocute yet another death row inmate, a last-minute legal battle has raised questions surrounding the possible bias of a juror who helped hand down the original death sentence decades ago.
Attorneys for Lee Hall say they’ve found a woman who now says she failed to disclose she had been raped and abused by her former husband during Hall’s jury selection process nearly 26 years ago.
The attorneys argue that this omission deprived the 53-year-old Hall of a fair and impartial jury — a right protected in both the Tennessee and U.S. constitutions.
The state opposes Hall’s petition to reopen the case and has asked the court to dismiss the request.
Hall is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 5.
Kimberlee Kruesi, The Associated Press
