NEW ORLEANS — A Black man wrongfully convicted as a teenager for a New Orleans rape more than 36 years ago was ordered freed Thursday after a judge threw out his conviction. Sullivan Walter, now ... Sullivan Walter was wrongfully convicted as a teenager for a New Orleans rape more than 36 years ago. He was finally freed this week after a judge threw out his conviction. STATE v. WALTER (1997) Court of Appeal of Louisiana,Fourth Circuit. STATE of Louisiana v. Sullivan WALTER. No. 94-KA-2221. Decided: July 23, 1997 Before LOBRANO, LANDRIEU and MURRAY, JJ. Harry F. Connick, District Attorney of Orleans Parish, Karen Godail Arena, Assistant District Attorney of Orleans Parish, New Orleans,for Appellee. The jury instructions in petitioner Sullivan's state court trial for first degree murder included a definition of "reasonable doubt" that was essentially identical to the one held unconstitutional in Cage v. Louisiana, 498 U.S. 39 (per curiam). The jury entered a verdict of guilty, and Sullivan was sentenced to death. Sullivan Walter was wrongfully convicted as a teenager for a New Orleans rape more than 36 years ago. He was finally freed this week after a judge threw out his conviction. Sullivan Walter, now 53, used a handkerchief to wipe away tears as a state district judge formally vacated his conviction for a home-invasion rape. Judge Darryl Derbigny expressed anger that blood ... JOHN SULLIVAN, PETITIONER v. LOUISIANA on writ of certiorari to the supreme court of louisiana [June 1, 1993] Justice Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court. Petitioner was charged with first degree murder in the course of committing an armed robbery at a New Orleans bar. His alleged accomplice in the crime, a convicted felon named Michael Hillhouse, testifying at the trial pursuant to a ...