Criminal Law

Hedayati: In Texas death row case, punishment does not fit crime

Posted on July 21, 2016
By Hooman Hedayati - Special to the American-StatesmanJeff Wood has an appointment he hopes to miss.On Aug. 24, 2016, at about 6 p.m., the Texas Department of Criminal Justice plans to inject a lethal dose of pentobarbital into Jeff?s veins to stop his heart as punishment for the 1996 murder of Kris Keeran...

Help Texas Man Set for Execution Under Law of Parties ? Jeff Wood Did Not Kill Anyone

Posted on July 21, 2016
Jeff Wood is scheduled for execution in Texas on August 24, 2016 under the law of parties even though he did not kill anyone. We need to persuade the Texas governor and members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute Jeff?s death sentence...

TX executes mentally ill man for murder of officer

Posted on March 24, 2016
Good article by a Sam Houston State University student for the college paper about Adam Ward, a mentally ill man, who was executed last night. Thankfully he wouldn't allow his parents, Nancy and Ralph Ward, to witness the execution as they were having a very difficult time with losing their only son...

Rally for Bernardo Tercero Today at 11 am

Posted on July 09, 2015
July 9, 2015PRESS ADVISORY  Contact: Gloria Rubac  713-503-2633Friends and Supporters of Death Row Prisoner Bernardo Tercero to Rally Outside of Nicaraguan Consulate; Will Urge the Consul General to Increase Efforts to Stop Tercero?s August 26 ExecutionFriends and supporters of Nicaraguan citizen Bernardo Tercero will rally outside of the Nicaraguan consulate today at 11:00 am, 8989 Westheimer Rd...

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Judicial vacancies slow judicial system

Posted on July 07, 2015
Perhaps no one can appreciate the importance of quick access to our federal courts more than death-row inmate Max Soffar. By the time the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rules on his habeas petition in support of his claim of innocence, he might have already died of liver cancer...

Help Texas Death Row Survivor Alfred Dewayne Brown

Posted on July 03, 2015
After more than ten years on Texas death row for a crime he did not commit, Alfred Dewayne Brown walked free and into the loving arms of his family and friends on June 8, 2015. "I went in an innocent man and I came out an innocent man," said Brown...

Historic Texas Senate Bill Filed to Abolish Death Penalty in Texas

Posted on March 16, 2015
 Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr has filed legislation to abolish the death penalty in Texas. This is the first time a state senator has ever filed legislation to abolish the death penalty in Texas. It happened because organizations in Texas held the Statewide Texas Lobby Day to Abolish the Death Penalty on March 3 and death row survivors Ron Keine and Sabrina Butler from Witness to Innocence and Scott Cobb of Texas Moratorium Network met with Senator Lucio's general counsel and requested that the Senator file abolition legislation...

A Conversation with Sandra and Rodrick Reed

Posted on February 10, 2015
Rodney Reed?s family has been at the forefront of a 17 year struggle to prove his innocence and win his freedom from Texas? death row. Recently, Rodney?s mother Sandra, and brother Rodrick, sat down to talk with Lily Hughes about their disappointment in the courts, the need for DNA testing, and the pain of facing an execution date...

Arnold Prieto

Posted on January 21, 2015
Arnold Prieto, 41, is scheduled today to be the first person executed under Governor Greg Abbott. Arnold is a frequent contributor to the blog minutesbeforesix.blogspot.com, where you can learn about him in his own words. He is deserving of a commutation to life in prison, so call Gov Abbott and urge him to stop today's execution: (512) 463-2000...

SEND IN A LITTLE HOLIDAY CHEER TO PRISONERS

Posted on December 12, 2014
As you are filling out your holiday cards this winter, please remember the men and women who will spend the holiday season behind bars. Opening a holiday card and receiving greetings and words of encouragement from you could really mean a lot to someone who has to spend the holidays away from his or her family...

DARBY TILLIS REMEMBERED

Posted on November 13, 2014
By Marlene Martin Sadly, our good friend and comrade in struggle Darby Tillis?the first exonerated Illinois death row prisoner in the modern era of the death penalty, passed away on Sunday November 10, at the age of 71. He was a steadfast fighter for abolition...

Darby Tillis, Exonerated Death Row Survivor from Illinois Dies at 71

Posted on November 10, 2014
Darby Tillis, a death-row survivor who spent more than nine years incarcerated in Illinois, including four years on death-row, passed away at the age of seventy one. Darby was living in an old limousine in the streets of Chicago. Severely wounded by his experience on death-row, he traveled around the country telling the story of his wrongful conviction to anyone that would listen...

Execution Watch: Miguel Paredes, Oct. 28

Posted on October 26, 2014
Miguel ParedesOn Tuesday, Texas is slated to carry out its last execution of 2014, that of Miguel Paredes.Last month, Paredes gave Execution Watch an interview, which we will broadcast in its entirety. This edition of the show will air in Houston on the HD3 channel of KPFT FM because the station is in fund drive...

Poems from death-row

Posted on September 12, 2014
More several individuals have asked for the poems which were read at Willie Trottie's execution. Two of the poems ("judge ye not" and "good bye"), were written by Eugene Broxton (TX #999044), a close friend of T-Rock's. Eugene and T-Rock have been friends for many years (Eugene entered in 1992, and T-Rock in 1993...

Oklahoma Execution Report Raises More Questions Than Answers

Posted on September 07, 2014
Five points by Gloria Rubac1.  Oklahoma, like Arizona and Ohio who've also botched executions, are experimenting on how to kill people, using live subjects. Looking for the best kill methods on prisoners is WRONG!2. An attorney for Oklahoma death row prisoners has filed a very detailed, 33-page lawsuit against the Dept of Corrections, the executioners, the doctors, the paramedic, the warden -- 14 people in all...

Drop Rodney Reed's Execution

Posted on July 14, 2014
Stand With Texas Death Row Prisoner Rodney Reed!DROP THE DATE! TEST ALL THE DNA!The Campaign to End the Death Penalty, along with the family and supporters of Rodney Reed rejects the decision today to issue a death warrant for innocent Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed for January 14, 2015...

From Texas death row: Two cases of injustice

Posted on June 04, 2014
By: Lily Hughes for the New Abolitionist The state of Texas maintains the most active execution chamber in the nation, amid questionable practices and a host of controversial executions.Texas has executed seven people already this year as of May 2014...

Execution Watch: Robert Campbell, May 13

Posted on May 11, 2014
Robert CampbellHUNTSVILLE, Texas - Oklahoma has put a hold on executions while its method of inducing death is investigated, but Texas intends to go forward Tuesday with executing Robert Campbell using lethal injection. Execution Watch will provide live coverage online and on the HD3 channel of  KPFT FM 90...

Execution Watch: Ramiro Hernandez, April 9

Posted on April 08, 2014
Ramiro HernandezHUNTSVILLE, Texas - The planned execution Wednesday of Ramiro Hernandez came one step closer to reality when an appeals court ruled that Texas prison officials may continue to keep secret the source of the drug they've purchased to kill him...

Execution Watch: Tommy Sells, April 3

Posted on April 01, 2014
Tommy SellsHUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Tommy Sells is one of two death-row prisoners who prevailed recently in a lawsuit demanding that Texas prison officials disclose the source of the drugs used in lethal injections.But the court decision has not stopped the wheels of death from turning...

Execution Watch: Anthony Doyle, March 27

Posted on March 26, 2014
Anthony DoyleBy Execution WatchHUNTSVILLE, TEXAS - For the second time in as many weeks, Texas is preparing to execute a black man who was a teenager when he allegedly committed murder.Anthony Doyle is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to stay his execution, scheduled for Thursday...

Execution Watch: Ray Jasper, March 19

Posted on March 18, 2014
Ray JasperBy Execution WatchHUNTSVILLE, Texas - Ray Jasper, who gained international noteriety by writing to gawker.com with his "final statement on earth," is slated to be executed Wednesday.The radio show Execution Watch will provide live coverage of his execution and an analysis of his case...

Louis Castro Perez denied appeal by 5th Circuit Court

Posted on March 04, 2014
Justice for Louis Castro Perez!The 5th Circuit Court has released an opinion denying relief to innocent Texas death row prisoner Louis Castro Perez. Many folks will be familiar with the case through Louis' sister, Delia Perez Meyer, who sits on the board of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty...

Execution Watch: Suzanne Basso, Feb. 5

Posted on February 03, 2014
Suzanne BassoBy Execution WatchHUNTSVILLE, Texas - Suzanne Basso is confined to a wheelchair. On Wednesday, Texas plans to kill her as one of six people convicted in the slaying of a man some 15 years ago. If the state follows through with its plan, Execution Watch will provide live coverage and commentaryRADIO SHOW PREVIEWUnless a stay is issued, Execution Watch will broadcast live:Wednesday, 5 February 2014, 6-7 PM Central TimeKPFT FM Houston 90...

Execution Wathc: Tamayo-Prevu

Posted on January 20, 2014
RADIO SHOW PREVIEWEXECUTION WATCHUnless a stay is issued, we'll broadcast live:Wednesday, 22 January 2014, 6-7 PM Central TimeKPFT FM Houston 90.1 HD3 and Online...http://executionwatch.org > ListenUpdates and discussion on Facebook: Execution Watch TEXAS PLANS TO EXECUTE:EDGAR TAMAYO, A Mexican national convicted in the 1994 shooting death of a Houston police officer who had been flagged down outside a  nightclub by a man Tamayo had robbed minutes earlier...

Stop Execution Protest back at the US Supreme Court

Posted on March 31, 2011
PRESS RELEASE--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 31, 2011CONTACT: Abolitionist Action Committee at 800-973-6548, aac@abolition.orgANTI-DEATH PENALTY PROTEST CASE Appealed to US Supreme CourtWASHINGTON - Thirty years after the execution of Gary Gilmore, the first person executed following the reinstatement of the death penalty in the United States following the Gregg v Georgia decision of the US Supreme Court, nine concerned citizens from New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Kansas and Vermont were arrested at the U...

Hearing on Moratorium, Abolition and Law of Parties Tuesday March 29 Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee

Posted on March 24, 2011
FromTexas Moratorium Network blog. The Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence has set a hearing for Tuesday March 29, 2011 on several death penalty related bills, including a moratorium on executions, abolition of the death penalty, and prohibiting death sentences in Law of Parties case...

New Hell Hole News #28 by Hank Skinner - 03/04/2011

Posted on March 24, 2011
Friday March 4th, 2011The latest news you can use about TX Death Row, where ?State Officials? lunacy and idiocy reigns supreme and where the fun never ends!About a month and a half ago my homeboy and good friend, fellow hillbilly Donald Keith Newberry aka Lizzerd, made himself some playtime ?body armor? outta cardboard, state shaving razors and handles...

Video of Resolution Passed by Texas House on "Day of Innocence" to Honor Death Row Exonerees

Posted on March 22, 2011
Video of Resolution Passed by Texas House on "Day of Innocence" to Honor Death Row Exonerees.82R12583 MMS-DBy: DuttonH.R. No. 829R E S O L U T I O N       WHEREAS, Six former death row inmates who have beenexonerated of the crime for which they were convicted are visitingthe State Capitol on March 16, 2011, the Day of Innocence, insupport of a moratorium on executions and other related measures;and       WHEREAS, These men are among the 138 individuals who havebeen released from death row since 1973, either because theirconvictions were overturned and they then won acquittal at retrialor had the charges against them dropped, or because they were givenan absolute pardon by the governor based on new evidence of theirinnocence; their lives forever changed by their wrongfulconviction, these six individuals are now working to reform thecriminal justice system; and       WHEREAS, Convicted of murder in Texas in 1981, ClarenceBrandley was just weeks away from his scheduled execution whenevidence of coerced testimony and blatant racism in his first twotrials prompted the FBI to intervene; three years later, thecharges against him were dismissed; Mr...

Daily Texan: Anti-death penalty event educates student advocates

Posted on March 22, 2011
By William James, Daily Texan StaffPublished: Monday, March 21, 2011 Mary Kang | Daily Texan StaffShujaa Graham (center) marches as part of the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break on Sixth Street on Wednesday afternoon...

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