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Allan Butcher Retires as Magistrate; Will Continue Indigent Defense Research

By Steve Hall

"Respected magistrate hangs up his robes but will continue his research at UT-Arlington," is the title of Martha Deller's report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Allan Butcher was known as one of the top death-penalty attorneys in Texas ? and an advocate for poor criminal defendants ? when he became a magistrate quietly working away in the basement courtroom at the courthouse a decade ago.His switch from writing appeals for Death Row inmates to simply approving pleas on routine legal matters may have bewildered others, but it made sense to Butcher, who said the job gave him time to continue his research and teaching."Most lawyers like the drama of the courtroom. I like the solitude of the library," Butcher said. Butcher, however, hung up his robes Friday after changes in the schedule forced him to work five days a week, every week...continue to full post

Full post as published by StandDown Texas Project on July 21, 2009 (boomark / email).