SCOTUS Takes Appeal of Texas Death Row Inmate Claiming Scientific Evidence Was Flawed

SCOTUS Takes Appeal of Texas Death Row Inmate Claiming Scientific Evidence Was Flawed
A digital representation of the human genome at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on Aug. 15, 2001. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Matthew Vadum
Updated:

The Supreme Court agreed on April 25 to hear the appeal of Rodney Reed, who was convicted of murder and rape, and who now wants evidence found at the scene of the crime years ago to be tested for DNA, even though a Texas law forbids it because he took too long to raise the issue.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor foreshadowed the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2020 when she questioned the strength of the scientific evidence used to convict Reed.