Ruben Carter Timeline Essay, Research Paper

June 1975:

Dylan visits Carter in prison. “The first time I saw him, I left knowing one thing…I realized that the man’s philosophy and my philosophy were running down the same road, and you don’t meet too many people like that”.

March 17, 1976:

The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously overturns the convictions, ruling that the prosecution withheld evidence favorable to the defense, and orders a new trial. Carter and Artis are released on bail.

December 22, 1976:

After a second trial in which the prosecution was allowed to argue for the first time that the murders were motivated by racial revenge, Carter and Artis are reconvicted; the same life sentences are imposed, and they are forced to return to prison.

December 22, 1981:

Artis is released on parole, after serving 15 years.

August 17, 1982:

The New Jersey Supreme Court, in a 4-to-3 decision, rejects an appeal for a new trial .

November 7, 1985:

Judge H. Lee Sarokin of Federal District Court in Newark, N.J. overturns the second trial convictions after finding that the prosecution committed “grave constitutional violations”; the convictions were based on “racism rather than reason and concealment rther than disclosure”.

November 8, 1985:

The prosecutors argue that carter is dangerous and should remain inprison pending the state’s appeal. Finding no evidence of dangerousness, Judge Sarokin orders Carter free without bail: “human decency mandates his immediate release”. Carter served 19 years in prison.

December 19, 1985:

The prosecutors assert to the United Stats Thrid Circuit Court of Appeals that Carter is a danger to the community and should be reincarcerated pending appeal.

January 17, 1986:

The court rejects the state’s arguments, and Carter remains free.

August 21,1987:

The U.S. Courts of Appeals upholds Judge Sarokin’s decision throwing out the convictions.

January 11, 1988:

The U.S. Supreme Court denies the state’s appeal, thus affirming Judge sarokin’s rulings.

February 19, 1988:

The Passaic County’s Prosecutor’s Office announce they will not seek a third trial, and they file a motion to dismiss the 1966 indictments against Carter and Artis.

February 26, 1988:

A Passaic County Judge signs the order dismissing the indictments.

Later, Carter called Dylan’s song about his “false imprisonment” a “masterpiece” and said that his “white brother” Dylan was “a musical genius.” He praised the

musicians for coming to Clinton and drawing attention to

his case, but warned that “frames won’t end with Rubin

Carter and John Artis.” (Artis is the other man convicted

of murdering three people in Paterson, New Jersey, in

1966.)

I’m not in jail for committing murder. I’m in jail partly because I’m a black man in America,

where the powers that be will only allow a black man to be an entertainer or a criminal.

Rubin Carter, Penthouse Interview 1975.