The 4th U.S. Court of Appeals unanimously appointed a three-judge panel. Circuit Court of Appeals, Richmond, rejected arguments that the young man of color should have been declared incompetent for trial in the shootings at Mother Emanuel AME Church of Charleston.
In 2017, Roof became the first person in the U.S. sentenced to death for a federal hate crime. Authorities have said Roof opened fire during the closing prayer of a Bible study at the church, raining down dozens of bullets on those assembled. Roof was 21 years old at the time.
In his appeal, Roof’s attorneys argued that he was wrongly allowed to represent himself during sentencing, a critical phase of his trial. Roof’s attorneys successfully stopped jurors hearing testimony about Roof’s mental health. They claimed that Roof was “under the delusion” and that white-nationalists would rescue him from prison. However, it is a bizarre argument to say that Roof must keep his mental-illnesses out of the public record.
Roof’s lawyers argued that his death sentence and convictions should be overturned or that his case should go back to court for a proper competency evaluation.
The 4th Circuit ruled that Roof was competently to stand trial. Roof was also found competent by the judge and issued a harsh rebuttal.
“Dylann Roof killed African Americans in their church during their Bible-study, worship. They had received him. They were his victims. He killed them with the intent to terrorize not only his immediate victims at Mother Emanuel Church which is historically significant, but also as many other similar people as possible,” the panel stated in its ruling.
Roof’s crimes cannot be captured by a cold record, or careful reading of precedents and statutes. The judges wrote that Roof’s crimes are sufficient to warrant the harshest punishment that a society of justice can impose.
Margaret Alice-Anne Farrand (deputy federal public defender), was Roof’s attorney. She declined to comment on this ruling.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had all but one judge. Circuit Court of Appeals in South Carolina was not present to hear Roof’s appeal. Jay Richardson, one of their own, represented Roof as an assistant U.S. attorney. The panel that heard arguments in May, and issued the ruling Wednesday on Wednesday, was made up of judges from many other appellate circuits.
Following his federal trial, Roof was given nine consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty in 2017 to state murder charges, leaving him to await execution in a federal prison and sparing his victims and their families the burden of a second trial.
However, Attorney General Merrick Galrland issued a moratorium last month and halted federal executions. The Justice Department is currently reviewing its execution policies. After a historic run in capital punishment under the Trump administration that saw 13 executions within six months, the Justice Department is conducting a review of its execution policies and procedures. The execution protocols have also been the subject of a federal lawsuit. This includes the possibility of suffering and pain from pentobarbital (the drug that is used to administer lethal injections).
As a candidate, President Joe Biden stated that he would work to end federal executions. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, stated in March that he still has “grave concerns.”
Biden is connected to the case. Biden, as vice president, attended the funeral of state senator Clementa Pinckney who was also the pastor of the congregation. Biden often mentioned the shooting during his 2020 presidential campaign. He said that Mother Emanuel helped him heal from the grief after the death of Beau.
Roof’s lawyers could request that the entire 4th Circuit reconsider the panel’s decision. Roof could file what is known as a 2255 appeal – a request for the trial court to review the constitutionality and validity of his sentence and conviction – if he fails in his direct appeal. Roof could also petition the U.S. Supreme Court to seek a presidential pardon.
