The interminable saga of Troy Davis continues

If it seems like I've been talking about the Troy Davis case for years, it's because I have. Apparently, I will be talking about it for a few more months at least. Today the Supreme Court adjourned for the summer without deciding whether to grant or deny Davis' habeas corpus petition.

After the Eleventh Circuit denied Davis' most recent appeal, his attorneys took the rare step of filing a habeas corpus petition directly with the Supreme Court. So, SCOTUS now has the option of either granting it (which hasn't been done since 1925), remanding for an evidentiary hearing to the district court (which is occasionally granted) or denying it outright. I found the last option the most likely, but was surprised to see that Davis' petition was not included in the final list of orders issued today before the Court adjourned until September.

The no-decision today essentially means that Davis' petition will not be acted upon until this fall when the court reconvenes. Davis will get a few more months on this earth, at least. I still have very little faith that Court intervention will occur at this point, with nearly all of his legal options rejected or exhausted. But I am very open to the universe surprising cynical ol' me just this once.