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Supreme Court Rejects Rodney Reed's DNA Testing Appeal

3/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court declined to hear Rodney Reed's request for DNA testing in the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites.
Reed maintains his innocence and argues that testing the belt and other evidence could yield crucial DNA results.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Reed's claims misinterpret post-conviction DNA testing laws.
In a prior decision, the court allowed Reed's efforts to proceed, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted doubts about the conviction evidence.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court declined to hear Rodney Reed's request for DNA testing in the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites.
Reed maintains his innocence and argues that testing the belt and other evidence could yield crucial DNA results.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Reed's claims misinterpret post-conviction DNA testing laws.
In a prior decision, the court allowed Reed's efforts to proceed, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted doubts about the conviction evidence.