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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 3 March 2022

Dylann Roof takes church shooting appeal to US Supreme Court

By MEG KINNARD and death sentence and
Associated Press issued a scathing rebuke
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — of Roof's crimes, which the
Attorneys for convicted judges wrote "qualify him
Charleston church shooter for the harshest penalty
Dylann Roof have asked that a just society can im-
the U.S. Supreme Court to pose."
decide how to handle dis- All of the judges from the
agreements over mental 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Ap-
illness-related evidence peals, which covers South
between capital defen- Carolina, recused them-
dants and their attorneys, selves from hearing Roof's
an issue that has played case. One of the judges,
a role throughout his case Jay Richardson, prosecut-
over the 2015 racist slayings ed Roof's case as an assis-
of nine members of a Black tant U.S. attorney in 2017,
South Carolina congrega- when Roof became the
tion. first person in the U.S. sen-
When a capital defendant tenced to death for a fed-
who has been ruled com- eral hate crime.
petent to stand trial and Roof subsequently asked
his attorneys "disagree on the court to reconsider its
whether to present mitigat- recusal. The court denied
ing evidence depicting him that request, as well as one
as mentally ill, who gets the for a new hearing.
final say?" Roof's appellate According to court docu-
team wrote in their petition, ments filed in another fed-
filed late last month with eral case, the FBI heard two
the high court. In this June 18, 2015, file photo, Charleston, S.C., shooting suspect Dylann Storm Roof is escorted neo-Nazi group members
Justices' consideration is from the Cleveland County Courthouse in Shelby, N.C. talk about trying to free
"needed to resolve a deep Associated Press Roof from the maximum-se-
divide among the lower curity prison in Terre Haute,
courts over who — client team and opted to repre- introduce evidence de- have been forced to self- Indiana, where he is an in-
or lawyer — gets to decide sent himself. This move, his picting him as mentally ill represent at his capital trial mate, including details on
whether mitigation evi- appellate attorneys have over his objection." to block his own attorneys the number of guards pres-
dence will be introduced written, successfully pre- But there is a disconnect, from presenting evidence ent and how a shootout
at a capital penalty hear- vented jurors from hear- his attorneys argued, be- he abhorred." would happen.
ing." ing evidence about his tween how such cases Authorities have said Roof If unsuccessful in his direct
Roof's self-representation mental health, "under the have been handled in the opened fire during the appeal, Roof could file
and desire to block any delusion" that "he would 4th Circuit versus other ju- closing prayer of a Bible what's known as a 2255
evidence potentially por- be rescued from prison by risdictions, where "the vast study at Mother Emanuel appeal, a request that the
traying him as mentally white-nationalists — but majority of state and fed- AME Church in Charles- trial court review the consti-
ill — even if it could have only, bizarrely, if he kept his eral courts hold otherwise, ton, South Carolina, raining tutionality of his conviction
helped him avoid the mental-impairments out of leaving this deeply person- down dozens of bullets on and sentence. He could
death penalty — has been the public record." al choice to a defendant." those assembled. He was also seek a presidential
a constant part of his case. Roof made his decision, his In other words, they ar- 21 at the time. pardon.
During the sentencing team argued in the peti- gued, "Had Roof been tried Last year, a panel of ap- The government's response
phase of his death pen- tion, "after the district court in any one of those majority pellate judges unanimously to Roof's request is due by
alty trial, Roof fired his legal told him that counsel could jurisdictions, he would not upheld Roof's conviction the end of the month.q

Los Angeles names its first female fire department chief

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles City the COVID-19 pandemic to claims that its
Council on Tuesday unanimously con- female employees face bullying and ha-
firmed the appointment of Deputy Chief rassment.
Kristin Crowley to be the first woman to Harassing behavior will not be tolerated,
lead the LA Fire Department. Crowley said in January. She was a fire-
Crowley will replace Ralph Terrazas, who fighter, paramedic, engineer and battal-
became the department's first Latino chief ion chief in the steps of her career leading
in 2014 and promoted Crowley several up her joining the department's command
times. staff.
Mayor Eric Garcetti nominated Crowley Terrazas plans to retire March 26, ending a
for the top spot in January. 38-year career that included the depart-
Crowley, who currently holds the jobs of ment responding to the coronavirus pan-
acting administrative operations chief demic by running city sites that have ad-
deputy and fire marshal, said at the time ministered millions of COVID-19 tests and

Kristin Crowley speaks to the press after Los Angeles Mayor Eric of her nomination that keeping the de- vaccinations.
Garcetti and City Council President Nury Martinez nominated partment operationally ready would be The department has about 3,400 uni-
Crowley for chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department on Tues- her number one priority. formed personnel and 106 fire stations
day, Jan. 18, 2022. Her appointment comes as the fire de- serving about 4 million people across 469
Associated Press partment deals with issues ranging from square miles (1,215 square kilometers).q