Court Clears Execution for Crips Founder (Stanley "Tookie" Williams)

Posted on Wed, Feb. 02, 2005

Court Clears Execution for Crips Founder

DAVID KRAVETS

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal appeals court Wednesday refused to consider blocking the execution of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, a founder of the notorious Crips street gang who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize while in prison.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to grant a new hearing on Williams' claim that prosecutors violated his rights when they dismissed all potential black jurors. A three-judge panel of the court had previously approved his execution but did not fully consider the jury-selection issue.

Williams will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, said defense lawyer Andrea Asaro. She noted that the Supreme Court ruled in 1986 that race could not be a reason for excusing jurors.

Williams was sentenced to death in 1981 for killing a convenience store worker and also was convicted of killing three other people. He claims jailhouse informants fabricated testimony that he confessed.

While in prison, Williams was nominated in 2001 for a Nobel Peace Prize for his series of children's books and efforts to curtail youth gang violence.

Officials of the state attorney general's office did not immediately return a call seeking comment.