Once a jury found an individual guilty of a capital crime, rape or murder, the judge had to sentence him/her to be executed at the gallows. Before 1890 there was no court of appeals, yet individuals were able to avoid the gallows by having the President commute their sentence, or pardon them. (Click here to see a list of those who received Presidential pardons or commutations.) By 1890 defendants could appeal to the Supreme Court. Many verdicts were reversed and new trials were ordered. (To learn more about those who received reversals, click here.)
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Last updated: April 10, 2015