Judge Yohn's decisions will be critical to the case, because he will decide whether to grant a new trial or hear new evidence. The Federal Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 presumes state court findings to be correct. If Abu-Jamal's lawyers can't convince the judge to set aside this presumption, his appeal will rest on the same tainted evidence used to convict him. As in the past, massive public protest will be key to winning a new trial for Abu-Jamal. It is expected that Judge Yohn will conduct a hearing in April.
Time is short.
See What You Can Do for more information.