
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 17, 1991                   TAG: 9104170361
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

COURT LIMITS DEATH-ROW APPEALS

The Supreme Court, taking a new step to cut off multiple appeals of criminal convictions, ruled Tuesday that most inmates will have to press all of their challenges the first time they come to federal court, or forfeit them.

The 6-3 ruling, in a Georgia death-row case, could reduce the number of attempts by inmates under death sentence to overturn their convictions and sentences.

It also affects inmates serving time in state prisons for all kinds of crimes, whenever they complain to federal courts about the constitutionality of their guilty verdicts or sentences.

If a state inmate can raise an issue the first time a challenge is taken to federal court, but fails to do so, that issue generally may not be raised in any second or later challenge - unless the inmate can meet a tough new burden of proof, the court ruled.

- The Baltimore Sun

by CNB