Supreme Court won't consider Tennessee death row inmate's case

February 19, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. | Updated February 19, 2019 at 3:36 p.m.

by Associated Press

In this June 26, 2017 file photo, The Supreme Court is seen on the last day of its term, in Washington. The Trump administration is back at the Supreme Court, asking the justices to continue to allow strict enforcement of a temporary ban on refugees from around the world. The Justice Department’s high court filing Monday follows an appeals court ruling last week that would allow refugees to enter the United States if a resettlement agency in the U.S. had agreed to take them in. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
In this June 26, 2017 file photo, The Supreme Court is seen on the last day of its term, in Washington. The Trump administration is back at the Supreme Court, asking the justices to continue to allow strict enforcement of a temporary ban on refugees from around the world. The Justice Department’s high court filing Monday follows an appeals court ruling last week that would allow refugees to enter the United States if a resettlement agency in the U.S. had agreed to take them in. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court won't hear the case of a Tennessee death row inmate who claimed his rights were violated when he was forced to represent himself at trial.

The Supreme Court said Tuesday it wouldn't hear the case of Tony Von Carruthers. Carruthers and an accomplice were arrested in 1994 and charged with robbing, kidnapping and murdering three people by burying them alive.

Carruthers went through several lawyers. Some asked to withdraw from the case after Carruthers threatened them.

Eventually the judge overseeing Carruthers' case told him that if he couldn't reconcile with his most recent lawyer he'd have to represent himself. After further threats, the judge told Carruthers he was responsible for his own defense, with two lawyers acting as advisers.

State and federal courts upheld that decision.

Upcoming Events