Williams v. Pennsylvania
 | This article's lead section contains information that is not included elsewhere in the article. (April 2023) |
| Williams v. Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 L. Ed. 2d 132 | |
| Opinion announcement | Opinion announcement |
| Case history | |
| Prior | Commonwealth v. Williams, 629 Pa. 533, 105 A.3d 1234 (2014); cert. granted, 136 S. Ct. 28 (2015). |
| Holding | |
| Chief Justice Castille's denial of the recusal motion and his subsequent judicial participation violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Kennedy, joined by Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan |
| Dissent | Roberts, joined by Alito |
| Dissent | Thomas |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. amends. VIII, XIV | |
Williams v. Pennsylvania, 579 U.S. ___ (2016), was a
death penalty for a defendant should recuse himself if asked to judge an appeal in the capital case.[1][2][not verified in body
]
Background
Ronald Castille, who had been the local District Attorney of Philadelphia
throughout Williams' trial, sentencing, and appeal, and who had personally authorized his office to seek the death penalty in this case. The attorneys for Williams asked the justice to recuse himself but Castille refused.
Opinion of the Court
Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy authored the majority opinion.[2][further explanation needed]
References
External links
- Text of Williams v. Pennsylvania, 579 U.S. ___ (2016) is available from: Justia Oyez (oral argument audio) Supreme Court (slip opinion)
- SCOTUSblog coverage