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Fifth Circuit overturns the 2007 federal criminal convictions of reputed Klansman James Ford Seale for kidnapping and conspiracy in the 1964 deaths of two black teenagers in southwest Mississippi

Fifth Circuit overturns the 2007 federal criminal convictions of reputed Klansman James Ford Seale for kidnapping and conspiracy in the 1964 deaths of two black teenagers in southwest Mississippi: You can access today's ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit at this link.

The conclusion to today's opinion begins:

To summarize, we conclude that the five-year limitations period made applicable to the federal kidnaping statute by the 1972 amendment applies to this case, where the alleged offense occurred in 1964 and the indictment was issued in 2007. The more than forty-year delay clearly exceeded the limitations period. The district court erred by failing to recognize the presumption that changes affecting statutes of limitation apply retroactively, even without explicit direction from Congress.

Previously, The Associated Press provided this coverage of the jury's verdict, while The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi provided this coverage of the imposition of three life sentences for the crimes.

Full post as published by How Appealing on September 09, 2008 (boomark / email).