The 9^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has rejected claims from attorneys for multiple murderer Joseph Duncan that the killer was incompetent to waive appeals of his death sentence, and dismissed the appeal that defense attorneys filed on his behalf. The attorneys still could seek an en banc rehearing from the 9^th Circuit or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the ruling is a significant step in the case of Duncan, who faces the death penalty three times over for the 2005 kidnapping, torture and murder of a 9-year-old North Idaho boy, Dylan Groene.

“They upheld our arguments,” said Rafael Gonzalez, first assistant U.S. Attorney for Idaho. “We’re very satisfied with the court’s ruling.” U.S. Attorney for Idaho Wendy Olson, who was traveling on Friday, personally argued the case to the 9^th Circuit on March 17. “Competent defendants can waive their right to appeal, even in a capital case,” she told the appeals court in San Francisco. The speedy ruling, just 10 days later, shows the judges agreed; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com.