Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Monday, the United States Supreme Court ruled that new rules of criminal procedure do not apply to final cases. Upon receiving the ruling in Edwards v. Vannoy, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry applauded the decision that final convictions in Louisiana will be upheld — ensuring crime victims get the justice they were promised and deserve.

“As the late great Justice Antonin Scalia famously and correctly opined, ‘the right to jury trial is fundamental to our system of criminal procedure, and states are bound to enforce the Sixth Amendment’s guarantees as (the Supreme Court) interpret them,” Landry said. “But it does not follow that, when a criminal defendant has had a full trial and one round of appeals in which the State faithfully applied the Constitution as (the Supreme Court) understood it at the time, he may nevertheless continue to litigate his claims indefinitely in hopes that (the Supreme Court) will one day have a change of heart.’

“Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed long-final convictions involving rape, murder, child molestation, and other violent crimes. It is a victory for Louisiana crime victims like the ones whom Thedrick Edwards confessed to raping, robbing, and kidnapping. At a time when crime rates are through the sky and attempts to erode law and order are incessant, it is assuring that the Supreme Court upheld the rule of law.

“I applaud my Solicitor General Liz Murrill and our Federalism Division for their great work in this case. They, the rest of my office, and I will continue to do all that we can to increase public safety in Louisiana and give crime victims the justice they deserve.”