Vernon Superior Court Judge Stanley T. Fuger Jr. has ruled

Vernon Superior Court Judge Stanley T. Fuger Jr. has ruled that 7 Connecticut death row inmates can challenge the state's death penalty as being biased by race and geography.
Several judges have previously rejected the claims, citing a 1987 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that evidence specific to a defendant, not statistics showing systemwide bias, is necessary to challenge an individual's death sentence on a racial claim. However, Judge Fuger  ruled that the Connecticut Constitution affords defendants greater legal rights than the U.S. Constitution and as a result they have the right to present the kind of systemwide bias evidence that the 1987 ruling barred. 7 of the state's 9 death row inmates filed the challenge last year. 2 others are not involved in the case.