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Texas to establish its first capital defender office

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this Houston Chronicle article, which is headlined "State to handle capital appeals," Texas is reforming its process of capital defense. Here are more details: Texas, which executes more convicts than any other state in the nation, will open its first capital defense office next year to manage appeals for death row inmates after years of reports that appointed private attorneys repeatedly botched the job. ?The status quo has been an international embarrassment,? said state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, who sponsored the law that created the office.  It was supported by an unusual alliance between the State Bar of Texas, the Court of Criminal Appeals and public defense advocates, who all backed it in the last legislative session...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on July 28, 2009 (boomark / email).