Gary Tyler (born July 1958) has been a prisoner in Louisiana since 1975, when he was convicted at age 17 of the 1974 shooting death of a 13-year-old white boy. Tyler was originally sentenced to death because of the charge and was the youngest prisoner on death row. The Fifth Circuit US Court of Appeals ruled the trial was "fundamentally unfair".

Gary was tried by an all white jury amid racial tension.Tyler's cause has been taken up by human rights organizations, as well as many other supporters, including a range of sports figures and organizations in 2007.

Tyler's case was appealed. In 1980 and 1981 the US Appeals Court, Fifth Circuit, ruled the trial was "fundamentally unfair" and flawed by an improper charge to the jury. The second time, after an appeal by the state, it reversed its earlier ruling to call for a retrial, based on what it said was attorney error.

In 1989 when the Louisiana Board of Appeals first ruled in favor of a pardon, the governor was running against David Duke for election, and refused to consider it. He feared such a decisions would work against him with too many voters.

Gary is still in jail. Please sign this petition in the hope that President Obama will at least look at the case and ensure justice is done for Gary after all this time.

Links