ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 24, 1997 TAG: 9702240105
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHICAGO
SOURCE: Associated Press
Many prominent lawyers, including best-selling author Scott Turow, are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the death penalty of a man whose judge was convicted of taking bribes in murder cases.
The 31 lawyers arguing on behalf of William Bracy, 55, also include former Gov. James Thompson, former state Attorney General Tyrone Fahner and Northwestern University law professor Lawrence Marshall.
The Supreme Court said in January it will decide whether Bracy, convicted of the 1980 shooting deaths of three drug dealers in Chicago, should get another chance to prove he was denied a trial before an impartial judge.
Bracy, convicted with Roger Collins of the killings, contends he was denied a fair trial before Thomas Maloney, a former Cook County judge who in 1993 was convicted of racketeering. Collins also was sentenced to death.
Prosecutors said Maloney took bribes to fix cases, including two murder trials that ended in acquittal. Maloney was sentenced to 15 years and nine months in prison and fined $200,000.
Bracy's lawyers contended Maloney came down hard on defendants in cases in which he was not bribed to avoid suspicion and maintain a reputation as a tough judge.
A federal appeals court in April upheld the conviction.
Bracy's attorneys are asking for the chance to collect evidence pointing toward bias on Maloney's part, which might entitle Bracy to a new trial.
Even if Bracy wins a new trial and acquittal, he still faces the death penalty in Arizona for the 1980 murder-for-hire of Phoenix print shop owner William Redmond, 46, and his mother-in-law, Helen Phelps, 70.
The Supreme Court refused in May 1995 to hear Bracy's appeal in that case.
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