The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, vacated the murder conviction of Richard Glossip, citing significant prosecutorial misconduct and false testimony by a key witness. This decision marks a rare victory for a death row inmate.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the Court, stated that the prosecution “violated its constitutional obligation to correct false testimony.” The Court found that prosecutors had withheld critical information about the key witness, Justin Sneed, who had struck a deal to avoid the death penalty in exchange for his testimony against Glossip. As a result, the Court concluded that Glossip is entitled to a new trial.

Jackson Walker partner Christina Vitale, who co-led the investigation with Reed Smith LLP and Crowe & Dunlevy LLP, expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court’s decision: “Jackson Walker was honored to be a part of the investigation team and grateful to all who helped on this case, including the countless attorneys, paralegals, investigators, Dean Emeritus Lawrence Hellman, who provided ethics counsel to the investigation; witnesses who agreed to be interviewed; police officers and jail officials who provided records; for the Oklahoma community members who wrote in support of this case; Glossip’s defense counsel Don Knight and his team; the Attorney General of Oklahoma, Gentner Drummond, for his brave leadership and courageous decision to release records that were critical to the case, appoint an independent counsel (Rex Duncan) to examine the case, and to ultimately confess error; Solicitor General Garry Gaskins; Supreme Court counsel Paul Clement and Seth Waxman; the amici; and, most importantly, the U.S. Supreme Court for recognizing the flaws in this trial.” Christina also stated, “We would also like to recognize former Oklahoma Public Defender Robert Ravitz, who passed away earlier this year, and was not able to see this momentous result, but whose decision to release records was impactful. As one can deduce, this involved a Herculean effort, and we are humbled to be a part of it.”

With the Supreme Court’s decision to vacate the conviction, prosecutors must now decide whether to put Glossip on trial again. This decision underscores the importance of ensuring fairness and justice in the legal process, particularly in death penalty cases.

For additional details about the case, please refer to the following links:

• US Supreme Court to Review Conviction of Richard Glossip (Client Result, January 22, 2024)
• US Supreme Court’s Decision (PDF, February 25, 2025)

This victory is a testament to Jackson Walker’s dedication to ensuring equal access to justice for all. Our Pro Bono program continues to support attorneys’ efforts in providing legal services to those in need. To learn more about the firm’s efforts to help ensure equal access to justice, visit our Pro Bono page.