Supreme Court Executes Marcellus Williams Despite Innocence Claims

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in Glossip v. Oklahoma, where death row inmate Richard Glossip claims prosecutors withheld evidence during his trial, a claim now supported by the State of Oklahoma. In a contrasting case, Missouri executed Marcellus Williams for the 1998 murder of journalist Felicia Gayle, despite the absence of physical evidence linking him to the crime, and significant doubts raised about the credibility of key witnesses. Williams's conviction was contested by the St. Louis County Prosecutor, who cited new DNA evidence and issues with jury selection, yet the Supreme Court declined to intervene. The executions have ignited criticism of the Supreme Court's approach to capital cases, with calls for recognizing claims of innocence as essential constitutional issues. Legal experts express concern over the court's infrequent intervention in death penalty cases, with a notable divide between its conservative and liberal justices. The situation highlights ongoing debates about justice and the reliability of the legal system in capital punishment cases.