StandDown Texas Project: Criminal Law

Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs

OR PHONE (866) 635-1838 for Bankruptcy Help, (866) 635-6190 for Divorce,
(866) 635-2689 for Personal Injury or (866) 635-9402 for Criminal Defense

Find a Local Lawyer

Bankruptcy (866) 635-1838
Divorce (866) 635-6190
Personal Injury (866) 635-2689
Criminal Defense (866) 635-9402

Criminal Law

StandDown Texas Project

Texas-centric examination of conditions, reform initiatives, and emerging issues related to best practices in the indigent criminal justice system with particular attention to issues involving capital punishment and the administration of the death penalty.
By StandDown Texas Project

Post Frequency: 49.3/day

Last Entry: April 01, 2011 at 14:21:29

Attorneys Examine Charging Decisions in Ohio County

Posted on June 08, 2010
Today's Toledo Blade reports, "Attorneys question capital-punishment decisions." It's written by Erica Blake. After sifting through hundreds of criminal cases in 44 boxes of records, Anthony Belton's defense attorneys say they believe they have enough evidence to warrant questioning the...

The Linda Carty Case

Posted on June 08, 2010
The United Kingdom's Press Association reports, "Plea to MPs over death row Briton," via Google News. The daughter of a British woman on death row in the US has pleaded with MPs to help prevent her mother's execution. Linda Carty,...

Human Smuggling Case Finally Ends

Posted on June 08, 2010
Seven years after a deadly human smuggling operation, a plea agreement ended the final prosecution in the case. One federal death sentence was sought -- but rejected by jurors -- among the 14 defendants. "Man sentenced to 14 years in...

Life Without Parole Would Be Fair Punishment for David Lee Powell

Posted on June 08, 2010
That's the title of an editorial in this morning's Austin American-Statesman. LINK Once again, we all must ponder the most serious power the state grants itself, the authority to take a life. Barring unanticipated intervention by the courts or state....

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Outdated Arson Science a Factor in California Case

Posted on June 07, 2010
"Thirteen years later, an arson case begins to unravel," is the title of Maura Dolan's Los Angele Times report. It appeared in the May 31st edition of the paper. The evidence seemed overwhelming. Investigators determined a house fire that killed...

In California

Posted on June 07, 2010
"California has high hopes of reinstating death penalty," is the title of a Sacramento Bee report written by Sam Stanton and Denny Walsh. When Caryl Chessman died in California's gas chamber 50 years ago -- probably the state's most notorious...

Justice in the Jury Box

Posted on June 07, 2010
That's the title of an editorial in the Saturday edition of the New York Times. LINK In 1986, when the Supreme Court reached a landmark decision forbidding prosecutors from routinely excluding blacks from juries without a good explanation, Justice Thurgood...

More on the David Powell Case

Posted on June 07, 2010
Sally Norvell has posted new video at the Let David Live website and on YouTube. Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Seth Silverman explains why David Powell is not a danger to society, and what would be lost by executing him. The second...

Capital Cost an Issue in Utah

Posted on June 07, 2010
Charles Trentelman's latest column in the Ogden Standard-Examiner is, "The death penalty: Immoral, expensive and it lets them off easy." There are many social arguments against the state killing people: It's immoral to kill. The application of the death penalty...

Canada Speaks Out for Clemency in Montana Case

Posted on June 04, 2010
"Canada seeks clemency from U.S. for Alta. man on death row," is the title of Randy Boswell's Canwest News Service report, via the Montreal Gazette. Nearly three years after the Conservative government declared it would no longer seek clemency for...

Atkins Issue in Idaho Case

Posted on June 04, 2010
KHQ-TV carries the AP report, "Death-row inmate may get reprieve," from Lewiston, Idaho. A death-row inmate who says he's mentally disabled may get a reprieve. Lewis County Prosecutor Kimron R. Torgerson says a tentative agreement has been reached that would...

In Utah

Posted on June 04, 2010
"Gardner's attorney asks high court to throw out death sentence," is the title of Pamela Manson's report in today's Salt Lake Tribune. A lawyer for Ronnie Lee Gardner asked the state's highest court on Thursday to throw out his death...

Ohio Governor Commutes Death Sentence - UPDATED

Posted on June 04, 2010
UPDATE -- The, "Governor's Statement on Parole Board Recommendation Regarding Richard Nields," has been released. Here's an extended excerpt: "On May 10, 2010, a majority of the members of the Ohio Parole Board recommended that Mr. Nields be granted a...

Justice Souter's Class

Posted on June 04, 2010
That's the title of Linda Greenhouse's latest post on the New York Times Opinionator blog. LINK Justice David H. Souter left the Supreme Court nearly a year ago without really saying goodbye. There were no pre-retirement interviews of the sort...

Retiring Nevada Legislator Continues to Speak about Capital Costs

Posted on June 04, 2010
KRNV-TV reports, "Assemblyman supports moratorium on death penalty in Nevada," by Andrew Del Greco. On the heels of James Michael Biela's murder conviction and death sentence, there are new questions... How long will Biela be on death row until execution,...

Opinion Roundup

Posted on June 03, 2010
Today's Orlando Sentinel carries the editorial, "Commission can reduce wrongful convictions with legislative support." Sprinkled throughout the U.S. Constitution is the notion that accused criminals are to be treated fairly and justly. A high ideal in theory, but too often...

Dying on the State's Dime

Posted on June 03, 2010
That's the title of Emily Ramshaw's report in the Texas Tribune on medical care, and costs, in Texas prisons. LINK In this time of projected state revenue shortfalls, it's required reading. Here's the opening: A gaunt old man, thick with...

Texas Innocence Projects & Compensation to the Exonerated

Posted on June 03, 2010
"Texas students in innocence projects play key role in exonerations," by Dave Montgomery appeared in Tuesday's Fort Worth Star-Telegram. For years, James Woodard wrote letter after letter from his prison cell, hoping to convince anyone willing to listen that he...

More From Georgia - The Weis Case and Indigent Defense

Posted on June 03, 2010
"Light Him Up Before the Jury Goes Home," is the title of Jessica Dweck's report for Slate. With a cert petition pending before the Supreme Court the case is getting national attention. In November 2007, Jamie Weis was scheduled to...

Can Good Start Be Enough

Posted on June 03, 2010
That's the title of Lisa Falkenberg's column in today's Houston Chronicle. LINK Here's an excerpt from this must-read: It may have been a hard-fought milestone for Harris County, but the proposed public defender office that finally won Commissioners' Court approval...

Texas Execution

Posted on June 03, 2010
Texas carried out its 12th execution of the year, last night in Huntsville. It was the state's 459th execution since 1982; the 220th execution under the administration of Governor Rick Perry. Texas has far and away the most active death...

News Coverage of EJI Report on Race and Jury Selection

Posted on June 03, 2010
The Equal Justice Initiative report, Illegal Racial Discrimination in Jury Selection: A Continuing Legacy, released yesterday, was widely recognized by the blogosphere. Let's begin with Tony Mauro's report in National Law Journal, "Study: Racial Bias Common in Jury Selection...

More on the David Powell Case

Posted on June 02, 2010
Robert Leleux has posted, "Fourteen Days to Live," at his Texas Observer blog. It includes this video: It's a heart-rending clip of David Powell's mother, Marjorie Powell, talking about her son's life. David's execution date is set for June 15th,...

A Summit on the Constitutional Right to Counsel

Posted on June 02, 2010
The Constitutional Right to Counsel Summit will be held Tuesday, June 15th, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 p.m., in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building, in Washington, DC. The event is open to the public. The Summit will...

Changes to Oklahoma Lethal Injection Law

Posted on June 02, 2010
Today's Tulsa World reports, "Bill to allow drug flexibility for executions sent to Henry." It's written by Barbara Hoberock.A bill sent to Gov. Brad Henry's desk would give the Oklahoma Department of Corrections more flexibility in carrying out executions...

Texas Execution

Posted on June 02, 2010
Texas is scheduled to carry out its 12th execution of the year, tonight in Huntsville. It would be the state's 459th execution since 1982. Texas has far and away the most active death chamber in America, accounting for more than...

Race and Juries in the South

Posted on June 02, 2010
Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative has released a report, Illegal Racial Discrimination in Jury Selection: A Continuing Legacy. It's the subject of a New York Times article, "Study Finds Blacks Blocked From Southern Juries," written by Shaila Dewan...

Texas Needs Public Defenders

Posted on June 01, 2010
That's the title of an OpEd by State Senator Rodney Ellis. LINK It appeared in the Sunday edition of the Houston Chronicle. It has been more than 45 years since the U.S. Supreme Court decided that American citizens who can't...

At the Supreme Court

Posted on June 01, 2010
The Court today rejected petitions to examine two death penalty cases. In the Kevin Keith case from Ohio, the AP reports, "Court won't hear inmate's claim of innocence," via Google News. The Supreme Court won't hear an Ohio man's arguments...

Mississippi Picks Up Pace on Executions

Posted on June 01, 2010
That's the title of an analysis written by Jack Elliott for AP, via the Gulfport Sun-Herald. LINK The three longest serving inmates on Mississippi's death row have been there a combined 88 years. Logic would suggest they'd be next in...

Previous | Next

Related Law Bulletins

Texas Governor Takes Surprising Stand In Favor Of Immigrants
Texas Governor Rick Perry, normally an ultra-conservative, surpris...

District Judge Upholds Texas' Moment of Silence Law
In 2003, the Texas legislature amended a "moment of silence" law s...

Irving, Texas Losing Students Due To Immigration Crackdown?
The Dallas Morning News had an interesting story Sunday about the ...

Two New USCIS Training Centers To Open In North Texas
The Dallas Morning News reports today that two regional training c...

Comprehensive Explanation of Irving, Texas Immigration Situation
The Dallas Morning News has a very good series of articles today a...