Supreme Court Rejects Rodney Reed Appeal

The United States — Supreme Court of the United States rejected an appeal from Rodney Reed, a United States — Texas death row inmate, who sought DNA testing of crime-scene evidence he believes would exonerate him in the 1996 murder of Rodney Reed. This decision leaves in place a ruling from a federal appeals court and potentially clears the path for Rodney Reed's execution. Prosecutors in United States — Texas have consistently refused to allow testing of the webbed belt used to strangle Rodney Reed, citing contamination concerns. Rodney Reed maintains his innocence, claiming he had a consensual affair with Rodney Reed and that her fiance, Jimmy Fennell, was the real killer. Three liberal justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented, expressing concern that Rodney Reed might be executed without crucial evidence being tested. The case has garnered significant public attention and support from celebrities like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Phil McGraw, and Rihanna.