Racial Justice Act Coverage

Johnston County Racial Justice Act hearing, March 5, 2024

Historians, researchers and experts on race and the justice system testify in the appeal of a Johnston County murder case.

Jury selection expert testified to race as "statistically significant factor" in Johnston County death sentence

Hasson Bacote's attorneys are trying to prove that Black people were unfairly excluded from the jury that heard his 2009 murder case. Bacote faces the death penalty, convicted in the 2007 murder of a man during a robbery in Johnston County.

WRAL Staff

Johnston County death penalty challenge argues race played a role, could have ripple effect for 100s of convicts

The Racial Justice Act, a now-defunct North Carolina law, used to let death row inmates appeal on the basis of racism in their prosecution. Some appeals are still underway, including the Hasson Bacote case in Johnston County.

Chelsea Donovan and Will Doran, WRAL reporters

Johnston County Racial Justice Act hearing, Feb. 26, 2024

Attorneys for a man on death row argue that racist jury selection hurt his right to a fair trial. The hearing could affect more than 100 death row inmates in North Carolina.

1 man's appeal could affect more than 100 death row inmates in NC

A judge will hear arguments Monday in a Johnston County murder case, where a teenager was shot during a robbery. The defendant hopes to get off death row, arguing his trial was tainted by racism. The outcome could revive dozens of cases that started before the Racial Justice Act was repealed in 2013.

The Wrap: Primary money, Leandro redux, historic capitol records

The week in North Carolina politics from WRAL's NC Capitol team.

Johnston County hearing could revive controversial Racial Justice Act claims in NC

The appeal in a Johnston County murder case could affect more than 100 death row inmates in North Carolina, as well as possibly the 2024 Democratic primary for governor between Josh Stein and Mike Morgan.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Fact-checking GOP ad on Beasley rulings in death sentence, sexual assault cases

A new TV ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee claims that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley, a former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, "vacated" a man's death sentence and "threw out" an indictment in a child assault case.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Judge orders state to provide decades of data on death penalty trials in NC to attorneys seeking to overturn sentences

More than a decade after he was sentenced to death, a Raleigh man was back in court Thursday seeking to have the sentence overturned, and his case could have a major impact for others on North Carolina's death row.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Defense attorneys: Raleigh man's case could help reduce bias in NC death penalty trials

More than a decade after he was sentenced to death, a Raleigh man was back in court Thursday seeking to have the sentence overturned, and his case could have a major impact for others on North Carolina's death row.

3 North Carolina death row inmates to serve life in prison

The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled on Friday that three death row inmates will have their sentences reduced to life in prison through the state's now-defunct Racial Justice Act.

By BRYAN ANDERSON, Associated Press/Report for America

'Antiracist lending library' offers lessons on racial justice

Minnesota sisters hope free library will help their community grow in the wake of George Floyd's death.

NC Supreme Court fractures over repealed racial bias law

A deeply divided state Supreme Court ruled Friday that an inmate who used a racial bias law to get his death sentence overturned cannot be sent back to death row simply because the General Assembly later repealed that law.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

NC's highest court rules racial justice cases should be heard

In a pair of rulings Friday, the N.C. Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that death row inmates who had appealed their sentences under the state's Racial Justice Act should still get a hearing despite that law's repeal.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief

Day 2: Hearing weighs claim by six death row inmates

North Carolina's highest court began weighing a claim Monday by six inmates on death row who say they are there because of racial discrimination in jury selection.

NC Supreme Court hears arguments from 4 death row prisoners

The prisoners will argue to North Carolina's highest court that racial bias so infected their trials that they should be resentenced to life in prison.

Civil rights group: NC death penalty cases rife with racial bias

Lawyers with a prominent civil rights group told the state's highest court Tuesday that four black death-row inmates deserve the opportunity to challenge their sentences after prosecutors systemically excluded black jurors from their cases.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL public records reporter

Ten years after NC's last execution, AG candidates concur death penalty should stay law

It has been 10 years since North Carolina carried out an execution. Candidates for attorney general say they will do what they can to restart executions, but progress is limited by a number of court challenges.

Mark Binker

GOP featured McCollum in a 2010 attack ad

Henry McCollum was freed from death row this week. His face was on a 2010 flier that attacked former state Rep. Hugh Holliman over his support for the Racial Justice Act.

Mark Binker

Repealed bias law lives on in NC challenge to overturned death sentences

Months after Republican lawmakers repealed the Racial Justice Act, the controversial law resurfaced at the North Carolina Supreme Court on Monday, with lawyers for the state arguing that death sentences should be reinstated against four inmates who sought relief under the law.

Matthew Burns

Racial Justice Act rulings could provide road map for other cases

The state Supreme Court will hear two cases Monday morning that involve defendants whose death sentences were commuted to life in prison after hearings held under the Racial Justice Act. Rulings in the cases could provide a road map for how future RJA appeals are handled. Meanwhile, despite legislation meant to clear the way for executions last year, the death penalty still faces a number of legal hurdles in the state.

Mark Binker

NC death penalty cases in limbo after Racial Justice Act's repeal

No one knows yet when executions will resume in the state or what will happen with pending claims of racial bias from most of the 153 people on death row.

Amanda Lamb and Kelly Gardner

Racial Justice Act repeal headed to the governor

A bill aimed at restarting the death penalty in North Carolina is headed to Gov. Pat McCrory's desk. The measure repeals the last vestiges of the Racial Justice Act.

Mark Binker

Wednesday wrap: Racial justice act almost dead

Wednesday saw the Racial Justice Act, gutted in last year's legislative session, weakened further on the same day a Cumberland County jury decided to sentence a murder suspect to death.

Racial Justice Act Repeal goes to House floor

A proposal to repeal the remainder of the 2009 Racial Justice Act could be up for a House vote Monday after passing its final committee Wednesday morning.

Laura Leslie