Story perspectives

Judge Vacates 1990 Conviction, Blames Supreme Court Erosion

7/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Justice Todd Eddins, in Granillo v. Hawaii, criticized the U.S. Supreme Court for abandoning civil-rights protections.
The opinion vacated Daniel Granillo’s 1990 kidnapping and sexual-assault conviction after finding FBI hair-fiber evidence discredited.
Eddins cited Dobbs, Citizens United, Rucho, Trump v. United States and Bruen to argue the federal judiciary has weakened safeguards.
Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan and GWU professor Jonathan Turley condemned the attack as unprecedented and lacking decorum.

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Story summary

Justice Todd Eddins, in Granillo v. Hawaii, criticized the U.S. Supreme Court for abandoning civil-rights protections.
The opinion vacated Daniel Granillo’s 1990 kidnapping and sexual-assault conviction after finding FBI hair-fiber evidence discredited.
Eddins cited Dobbs, Citizens United, Rucho, Trump v. United States and Bruen to argue the federal judiciary has weakened safeguards.
Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan and GWU professor Jonathan Turley condemned the attack as unprecedented and lacking decorum.