HOUSTON (AP) _ The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to reconsider an appeal from Texas death row inmate Duane Buck, who won a last-minute reprieve from the high court in September.
The justices in November rejected Buck’s appeal and Monday’s ruling, without comment, came on a request that the court reconsider its rejection.
Buck was sentenced to die for killing his ex-girlfriend and a man at her Houston apartment in July 1995.
Buck’s lawyers argued he deserved a new sentencing trial because a psychologist testified black people were more likely to be violent in prison. Attorneys contended it was improper to inject race into the sentencing decision.
Five other Texas inmates won new punishment hearings in similar cases. All five were again sentenced to death.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)