The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has declared on Wednesday that it will not be hearing Jerry Sandusky's appeal. The former assistant football coach of Penn State has been convicted of 45 counts of child molestation, The Associated Press said.
Sandusky argued to Pennsylvania's high court that his lawyers had rushed in his 2012 trial and that prosecutors improperly made reference to his decision to not testify in court. Moreover, Sandusky said that the trial judge should have issued an instruction to the jury on how long his purported victims reported the alleged abuse and that jurors should not have been told to base their evidence on his good character against all others presented against him in the trial.
Norris Gelman, an attorney for Sandusky, expressed his dismay with the state Supreme Court's decison, of which AP said was done in a one-sentence order. When asked if Sandusky will be filing a new appeal, as he has the right to do so, Gelman believed that his client will do it. According to Gelman, Sandusky can file a new appeal under the Post Conviction Relief Act of the state, which could address any evidence that has been discovered post-conviction, as well as any claims that Sandusky's attorneys in the 2012 trial were not effective. Moreover, Gelman said that Sandusky could also take his case to federal court.
The 70 year-old former assistant coach is serving the remainder of up to 60 years in prison for sexually abusing 10 boys, AP said.
Attorney General Kathleen Kane expressed her approval with the Supreme Court decision. She said, "Protecting Pennsylvania's children is one of my top priorities and I remain committed to seeking justice for all victims of sexual abuse."
Moreover, Kane's office had said that Sandusky provided insufficient basis for the state high court to take up the matter. Kane's office also insisted that the trial judge did not violate Sandusky's rights during the trial.
