Constitutional Law
Defense Attorneys Not Authorized to Try to Save Ex-Client from Execution, Federal Judge Says
A federal judge in Roanoke, Va., on Thursday nixed efforts by former defense attorneys for Robert Gleason Jr., to prevent their ex-client from being executed.
Gleason, 42, has strangled two inmates and says he will kill more if he isn’t put to death, reports the Associated Press. However, the attorneys contend he isn’t competent to waive death-penalty appeals.
U.S. District Judge Glen Conrad said the two lawyers aren’t authorized to act for Gleason and are not mental-health experts.
Gleason is scheduled to be put to death on Wednesday. “I deserve this,” he said. “I’ve hurt people.”
