(ORDER LIST: 559 U.S.)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010
ORDER IN PENDING CASE
09-9000 SKINNER, HENRY W. V. SWITZER, LYNN
(O9A743)
“The application for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Scalia and by him referred to the Court is granted pending disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari.
Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court.”
Henry “Hank” Skinner is on death row inmate in Texas. In 1995, he was convicted for the murders of his live-in girlfriend and her two adult sons. Mr. Skinner has asked for DNA testing of seven items:
(1) vaginal swabs taken from Twila Busby at the time of her autopsy;
(2) Twila Busby’s fingernail clippings;
(3) a knife found on the front porch of the Busby house;
(4) a knife found in a plastic bag in the living room of that house;
(5) a dishtowel also found in that bag;
(6) a windbreaker jacket found in the living room next to Ms. Busby’s body; and
(7) any hairs found in Ms. Busby’s hands that have not been destroyed by previous testing.