United States v. Bass

A federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Michigan returned a second superseding indictment charging respondent with, inter alia, the intentional firearm killings of two individuals. The United States filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. Respondent, who is black, alleged that the Government had determined to seek the death penalty against him because of his race. He moved to dis miss the death penalty notice and, in the alternative, for discovery of information relating to the Government’s capital charging practices. The District Court granted the motion for…