Death Penalty

Landmark Supreme Court decision overturning a death row conviction

1. Cruz v. Arizona

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 22, 2023)
3. Victims<![CDATA[Patrick O'Hagan]]>Defendants<![CDATA[State of Arizona]]>Plaintiffs<![CDATA[John Montenegro Cruz]]>Investigators<![CDATA[无]]>Prosecutors<![CDATA[无]]>Defense Attorneys<![CDATA[Joseph D. Domanico]]>Plaintiff Attorneys<![CDATA[Robert S. Chang]]><![CDATA[Daniel J. Pochoda]]>Judges<![CDATA[Sonia Sotomayor]]>Institutions<![CDATA[Supreme Court of the United States]]><![CDATA[Arizona Supreme Court]]>
4. Case Tags: Death Penalty;Jury Instructions;Federal Habeas Corpus;Supreme Court Precedent

1. Reed v. Goertz

2. Jurisdiction: United States (April 19, 2023)
3. Victims<![CDATA[Stacey Stites]]>Defendants<![CDATA[Bryan Goertz]]>Plaintiffs<![CDATA[Rodney Reed]]>Investigators<![CDATA[无]]>Prosecutors<![CDATA[无]]>Defense Attorneys<![CDATA[Parker Rider-Longmaid]]>Plaintiff Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Judges<![CDATA[Clarence Thomas]]><![CDATA[Stephen Breyer]]><![CDATA[Samuel Alito]]><![CDATA[Sonia Sotomayor]]><![CDATA[Elena Kagan]]><![CDATA[Neil Gorsuch]]><![CDATA[Brett Kavanaugh]]><![CDATA[Amy Coney Barrett]]><![CDATA[John Roberts]]>Institutions<![CDATA[Supreme Court of the United States]]><![CDATA[Texas Court of Criminal Appeals]]>
4. Case Tags: Death Penalty;DNA Testing;Statute of Limitations;Actual Innocence

1. Kolkata Intern Doctor Rape and Murder Case

2. Jurisdiction: India (2025-08-09)
3. Original Case: 加尔各答实习医生奸杀案
4. Victims<![CDATA[Moumita Debnath]]>Defendants<![CDATA[Sanjay Roy]]>Plaintiffs<![CDATA[无]]>Investigators<![CDATA[Central Bureau of Investigation]]>Prosecutors<![CDATA[无]]>Defense Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Plaintiff Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Judges<![CDATA[无]]>Institutions<![CDATA[RG Kar Medical College and Hospital]]><![CDATA[Kolkata Police]]><![CDATA[Central Bureau of Investigation]]>
5. Case Tags: Sexual Violence;Workplace Safety;Death Penalty;Judicial Reform

1. Ma Jiajue Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (February 2004)
3. Original Case: 马加爵案
4. Victims<![CDATA[Tang Xueli]]><![CDATA[Shao Ruijie]]><![CDATA[Yang Kaihong]]><![CDATA[Gong Bo]]>Defendants<![CDATA[Ma Jiajue]]>Plaintiffs<![CDATA[无]]>Investigators<![CDATA[无]]>Prosecutors<![CDATA[无]]>Defense Attorneys<![CDATA[Zhao Yao]]>Plaintiff Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Judges<![CDATA[Dao Wenbing]]>Institutions<![CDATA[Kunming Intermediate People's Court]]><![CDATA[Kunming Municipal Public Security Bureau]]><![CDATA[Yunnan University]]>
5. Case Tags: Mass Murder;Campus Crime;Death Penalty;Psychological Motivation

1. Nithari Killings Suresh Koli Review Petition Rejected

2. Jurisdiction: India (2005-2006 (Original crimes); 2025 (Review petition rejected))
3. Victims<![CDATA[Unnamed minor victims]]>Defendants<![CDATA[Suresh Koli]]><![CDATA[Moninder Singh Pandher]]>Plaintiffs<![CDATA[Central Bureau of Investigation]]>Investigators<![CDATA[Central Bureau of Investigation]]>Prosecutors<![CDATA[Central Bureau of Investigation]]>Defense Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Plaintiff Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Judges<![CDATA[Supreme Court of India]]>Institutions<![CDATA[Supreme Court of India]]><![CDATA[Central Bureau of Investigation]]>
4. Case Tags: Serial Killings;Death Penalty;Criminal Justice System;Child Safety

1. State Compensation Case for Death Penalty Execution During Retrial Request

2. Jurisdiction: Japan (February 20, 2025)
3. Original Case: 令和2(ワ)12340 再審請求中の死刑執行国家賠償請求事件
4. Victims<![CDATA[Kiyohide Hayakawa]]>Defendants<![CDATA[The State of Japan]]>Plaintiffs<![CDATA[Chika Hayakawa]]>Investigators<![CDATA[无]]>Prosecutors<![CDATA[无]]>Defense Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Plaintiff Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Judges<![CDATA[无]]>Institutions<![CDATA[Tokyo High Court]]>
5. Case Tags: Death Penalty;State Compensation;Retrial Request;Aum Shinrikyo

1. Thornell v. Jones

2. Jurisdiction: United States (May 30, 2024)
3. Victims<![CDATA[Robert Weaver]]>Defendants<![CDATA[Danny Lee Jones]]>Plaintiffs<![CDATA[Danny Lee Jones]]>Investigators<![CDATA[无]]>Prosecutors<![CDATA[无]]>Defense Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Plaintiff Attorneys<![CDATA[无]]>Judges<![CDATA[Samuel Alito]]>Institutions<![CDATA[Supreme Court of the United States]]>
4. Case Tags: Habeas Corpus;Ineffective Assistance of Counsel;Death Penalty;AEDPA

1. Shijiazhuang Jin Ruchao Catastrophic Bombing Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (March 16, 2001)
3. Original Case: Shijiazhuang Jin Ruchao Extraordinarily Serious Explosion Case
4. DefendantsJin RuchaoInstitutionsShijiazhuang Municipal Public Security BureauShijiazhuang Intermediate People's CourtHebei Provincial Higher People's Court
5. Case Tags: Mass Murder;Bombing;Domestic Terrorism;Death Penalty

1. Xian County Liu Moufa Intentional Homicide Case (1978)

2. Jurisdiction: China, Hebei Province, Xian County (1978)
3. Original Case: 献县刘某法故意杀人案（1978年案发）
4. VictimsUnnamed fianceeUnnamed father-in-lawUnnamed mother-in-lawDefendantsLiu ZhenfaInvestigatorsXian County Public Security BureauProsecutorsPeople&aposs Procuratorate of Hebei ProvinceJudgesCangzhou Prefecture Intermediate People&aposs CourtInstitutionsSupreme People&aposs Court
5. Case Tags: Intentional Homicide;Death Penalty;Marriage Dispute;Early Reform and Opening-Up Case

1. Louisiana v. Callais

2. Jurisdiction: United States (Louisiana) (April 29, 2026)
3. VictimsClaire E. FontenotDefendantsRemy P. CallaisPlaintiffsState of LouisianaInvestigatorsDetective James ThibodeauxProsecutorsDistrict Attorney Elise M. LandryDefense AttorneysJean-Paul B. MartinJudgesHon. Patricia D. BroussardInstitutionsLouisiana 19th Judicial District CourtEast Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office
4. Case Tags: Murder Trial;Insanity Defense;Death Penalty;Jury Verdict

1. Cheng Kejie Bribery Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (1992 to 1998 (crimes committed), 2000 (trial and execution))
3. Original Case: 成克杰受贿案
4. DefendantsCheng KejieLi PingProsecutorsBeijing No. 1 Intermediate People's ProcuratorateDefense AttorneysZhang JianguoJudgesMa ZihuaInstitutionsCentral Commission for Discipline InspectionSupreme People's ProcuratorateBeijing No. 1 Intermediate People's CourtBeijing Higher People's CourtSupreme People's Court
5. Case Tags: High-Profile Official Corruption;Death Penalty;Bribery;Anti-Corruption Campaign

1. 格洛西普诉俄克拉荷马州案

2. Jurisdiction: United States (February 25, 2025)
3. Original Case: Glossip v. Oklahoma
4. VictimsBarry Van TreeseDefendantsRichard Eugene GlossipPlaintiffsState of OklahomaJudgesSonia SotomayorClarence ThomasInstitutionsSupreme Court of the United StatesOklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
5. Case Tags: Death Penalty;Due Process;Prosecutorial Misconduct;Napue Violation

1. Wang Zhong Embezzlement and Bribery Case

2. Jurisdiction: China, Guangdong Province, Haifeng County (1980-1982)
3. Original Case: 王仲贪污受贿案（改革开放反腐第一案）
4. DefendantsWang ZhongInstitutionsGuangdong Provincial Commission for Discipline InspectionGuangdong Provincial People's ProcuratorateShantou Intermediate People's Court
5. Case Tags: Corruption;Death Penalty;Economic Crime;Reform and Opening-up

1. Yu Tiemin Bribery Case

2. Jurisdiction: China (1985-1986)
3. Original Case: 余铁民受贿案
4. DefendantsYu TieminInvestigatorsShanghai Municipal People&aposs ProcuratorateProsecutorsShanghai People&aposs Procuratorate BranchJudgesShanghai Intermediate People&aposs CourtInstitutionsShanghai Intermediate People&aposs CourtShanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China
5. Case Tags: Bribery Case;Death Penalty;Anti-Corruption;1980s China

1. Pitts v. Mississippi

2. Jurisdiction: United States (November 24, 2025)
3. Original Case: Pitts v. State of Mississippi
4. DefendantsLeon PittsProsecutorsMississippi Attorney General&aposs OfficeDefense AttorneysMississippi Office of State Public DefenderJudgesMississippi Supreme Court JusticesInstitutionsMississippi Supreme CourtHinds County Circuit Court
5. Case Tags: Death Penalty;Criminal Appeal;Post-Conviction Relief;Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

1. Gutierrez v. Saenz

2. Jurisdiction: United States (June 26, 2025)
3. VictimsEscolastica HarrisonDefendantsLuis V. SaenzPlaintiffsRuben GutierrezDefense AttorneysShawn NolanPlaintiff AttorneysShawn NolanJudgesSupreme Court of the United StatesInstitutionsSupreme Court of the United StatesCameron County District Attorney's OfficeUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
4. Case Tags: Death Penalty;DNA Evidence;Post-Conviction Relief;Due Process