George Stinney: The 14-Year-Old Executed After a Rushed Trial, Then Cleared 70 Years Later
George Stinney Jr. was 14 when he was executed in South Carolina in 1944 after being convicted of murdering two white girls. His trial lasted only a few hours, while an all-white jury reportedly reached its verdict in 10 minutes. Police said he confessed, but no written confession was produced. He was questioned without a parent, guardian or lawyer present, and his court-appointed lawyer called no witnesses or meaningfully challenged the prosecution’s case. In 2014, a South Carolina judge vacated Stinney’s conviction, citing serious violations of due process and inadequate legal representation. The ruling came 70 years after his execution and highlighted the injustice surrounding his prosecution.
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