{"id":2395547,"date":"2025-01-27T11:26:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T16:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-allowing-retrial-in-hammer-robbery-case-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-27T11:27:37","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T16:27:37","slug":"clarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-allowing-retrial-in-hammer-robbery-case-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-allowing-retrial-in-hammer-robbery-case-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Clarence Thomas blasts Supreme Court for allowing retrial in hammer robbery case &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fclarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-allowing-retrial-in-hammer-robbery-case-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2395547&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses a\u200b decision by the\u2063 U.S. Supreme Court regarding the case of David M.Smith, who was previously convicted of attempted murder for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nypd-suspect-slashes-man-in-face-in-unprovoked-manhattan-subway-attack\/\" title=\"NYPD: Suspect Slashes Man in Face in Unprovoked Manhattan Subway Attack\">brutal hammer attack<\/a> in Ohio. The\u200d Court chose not to review a ruling from the U.S. \u200dCourt of Appeals for the 6th\u2062 Circuit that mandated \u200ba retrial for Smith,\u200b after it found that the initial identification procedure used against him violated his\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/group-our-vote-matters-is-suing-facebook-dominion-mark-zuckerberg-certain-state-officials-others-for-infringing-upon-right-to-vote-assemble-and-speak-freely-you-can-jo\/\" title=\"Group \u201cOur Vote Matters\u201d Is Suing Facebook, Dominion, Mark Zuckerberg, Certain State Officials, Others for Infringing Upon Right to Vote, Assemble and Speak Freely \u2013 You Can Join Too\">due process rights<\/a>. Justice Clarence\u200b Thomas, alongside Justice Samuel\u2064 Alito, dissented, criticizing the lower \u200dcourt&#8217;s decision as an overreach\u2063 and highlighting the harmful implications for victims and law \u200denforcement. He warned that retrials\u200d can be painful for victims and complicate the prosecution&#8217;s case due to issues like loss of evidence and fading memories. Despite \u200dthese concerns, the Supreme Court&#8217;s refusal to intervene allows the\u200d retrial to\u2064 proceed under the guidelines established by the appeals court.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Clarence Thomas blasts Supreme Court for allowing retrial in hammer robbery case<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1938623\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Supreme Court<\/a> declined Monday to review a lower court ruling that overturned the conviction of David M. Smith, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ohio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Ohio<\/a> man sentenced to 22 years for a brutal hammer attack, prompting a stern rebuke from Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Clarence Thomas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The high court&rsquo;s move allows Smith to receive a new trial after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit found the identification procedure used in his case violated his due process rights last year. Thomas, joined by his fellow conservative colleague Justice&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/samuel-alito\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samuel Alito<\/a>, dissented from the majority&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/orders\/courtorders\/012725zor_bp7c.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decision<\/a>, criticizing the 6th Circuit for improperly granting Smith&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-zero-in-on-jacksons-defense-of-guantanamo-bay-terrorists\/\" title=\"Republicans Zero In On Jackson\u2019s Defense Of Guantanamo Bay Terrorists\">habeas corpus petition<\/a> and ordering a retrial.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas argued the lower court&rsquo;s decision ignored the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, which <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">limits federal courts&#038;rsquo<\/a>; power to overturn state court convictions.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Sixth Circuit&rsquo;s decision is the latest in a long line of blatant AEDPA abuses,&rdquo; Thomas wrote, warning that the ruling undermines state courts and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-sending-us-officials-to-mexico-following-johnson-plea-to-fix-border\/\" title=\"Biden heeds Johnson&#039;s plea, dispatches US officials to Mexico to address border issue\">creates significant challenges<\/a> for victims and law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Retrials inflict substantial pain on crime victims&rdquo; and risk letting &ldquo;perpetrators of violent crimes go free,&rdquo; Thomas added.<\/p>\n<p>Smith was convicted of the 2015 attempted murder of Quortney Tolliver, who was attacked in her home and left with severe skull and facial fractures caused by hammer strikes. Tolliver identified Smith as her attacker weeks after the assault, but the appeals court ruled last year that the identification process was &ldquo;unduly suggestive&rdquo; and unreliable.<\/p>\n<p>Ohio Attorney General David Yost (R) defended the original conviction, arguing that Smith&rsquo;s DNA and phone records tied him to the crime and that the appeals court improperly overstepped its authority by ordering a new trial.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Sixth Circuit not only mishandled the law of eyewitness testimony, it fumbled the law that sets the rule of decision for federal habeas courts,&rdquo; Yost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/24\/24A419\/330199\/20241024144016530_Smith%20Mandate%20Stay.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> the high court in October.<\/p>\n<p>The full court previously declined to take up an initial petition in November, making Monday&rsquo;s decision the second rejection to reconsider the 6th Circuit&rsquo;s ruling.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas warned that retrying the nearly decade-old case would strain resources, risk the loss of evidence, and retraumatize the victim.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE&nbsp;TO&nbsp;READ&nbsp;MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Retrial diverts significant time and resources away from other law enforcement activities, and it is often &lsquo;more difficult&rsquo; because of &ldquo;the &lsquo;erosion of memory&rsquo; and &lsquo;dispersion of witnesses&rsquo; that accompany the passage of time,&rdquo; Thomas wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these concerns, the Supreme Court&rsquo;s decision not to take up the case leaves prosecutors to pursue a retrial under the appeals court&rsquo;s guidelines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1938623\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1938623\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clarence Thomas criticizes Supreme Court for permitting retrial<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2395548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24132027237775-1024x590.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[34632,49269,11085,32275],"class_list":["post-2395547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-clarence-thomas","tag-hammer-robbery","tag-retrial","tag-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24132027237775-1024x590.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395547"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2395551,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395547\/revisions\/2395551"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2395547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2395547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}