Philadelphia, December 28 (RHC)-- In the United States, a Philadelphia judge has ruled that imprisoned former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal can re-argue his appeal in his case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. 

The judge cited then-Chief Justice Ronald Castille’s failure to excuse himself from the case due to his prior role as Philadelphia district attorney when Abu-Jamal was appealing his case.  

Abu-Jamal was convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner but has always maintained his innocence.  Abu-Jamal’s lawyers argued that statements Castille made about people accused of killing police officers indicated he should have recused himself. 

In 2011, Abu-Jamal was sentenced to life without parole.