Appeals court asked high court if a civil rights crime can be prosecuted decades later . Comment: Federal officials had initially trumpeted reopening the Seale case . James Ford Seale appealed conviction in case , saying statute of limitations had expired . Indictment stands , but question of whether similar cases can be prosecuted is unanswered .
Appeals court asked high court if a civil rights crime can be prosecuted decades later . Comment: James Ford Seale appealed conviction in case , saying statute of limitations had expired . Indictment stands , but question of whether similar cases can be prosecuted is unanswered .