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Sotomayor Critiques Court's Denial of Rodney Reed's Appeal

3/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Justice Sonia Sotomayor (U.S. Supreme Court) issued a March 30, 2026 dissent criticizing the Supreme Court's refusal to hear Rodney Reed's appeal.
Rodney Reed was sentenced to death for the 1998 murder of Stacey Lee Stites and seeks DNA testing on evidence in state custody.
Sotomayor argued that the conservative majority failed to interpret Texas's postconviction DNA testing law in a way that could exonerate Reed and prevent wrongful executions.

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Story summary

Justice Sonia Sotomayor (U.S. Supreme Court) issued a March 30, 2026 dissent criticizing the Supreme Court's refusal to hear Rodney Reed's appeal.
Rodney Reed was sentenced to death for the 1998 murder of Stacey Lee Stites and seeks DNA testing on evidence in state custody.
Sotomayor argued that the conservative majority failed to interpret Texas's postconviction DNA testing law in a way that could exonerate Reed and prevent wrongful executions.