PA Supreme Court justice won't recuse himself from Williams case

(Philadelphia) — The chief justice of Pennsylvania's Supreme Court won't step down from a death-penalty case he supervised as Philadelphia's district attorney.

Chief Justice Ronald Castille has denied a defense request to recuse himself from the case of Terrance "Terry" Williams.

Lawyers for the 46-year-old Williams fear he could be executed Wednesday despite a ruling from a Philadelphia judge that throws out his death sentence. The judge says that evidence was hidden from the defense and jury.

Philadelphia prosecutors have appealed the decision to Castille's court. The Supreme Court did not rule Monday on the emergency appeal filed Friday.

However, court records show that Castille has declined to recuse himself.

Williams is on death row for killing two men in 1984. He says both victims were sexually abusing him.