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Texas Death Penalty Blog 
Death penalty cases and legislation in Texas and elsewhere.
Post Frequency: 1.5/day Last Entry: November 18, 2009 at 23:35:00 Recent Entries: 489
By "Persian Cowboy"
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Attorneys File motion Asking Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Sharon Keller be recused from any participation in Stay Request of Danielle Simpson
Posted on November 18, 2009From the Palestine Texas Herald Press:Late Tuesday afternoon, Simpson's attorneys David R. Dow and Katherine C. Black filed a postconviction writ of habeas corpus; a motion for a stay of execution; and a motion asking Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Sharon Keller be recused from any participation in the case...
Breaking News: Board of Pardons and Paroles Recommends that Governor Perry Commutes Death Sentence of Robert Thompson
Posted on November 18, 2009Call the Governor and leave a voice message at 512 463 1782 or email him through his website at http://governor.state.tx.us/contact. Urge him to accept the recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant Robert Thompson clemency and commute his sentence to life...
Three Executions in Three Days in Texas, Starting Today
Posted on November 17, 2009Texas is set to execute three people in three days starting today, November 17. The first is Gerald Cornelius Eldridge, who is mentally ill and has an IQ of 72. Eldridge, 45, was sentenced to death for the 1993 shooting deaths of his former girlfriend, Cynthia Bogany and her nine-year old daughter Chirissa in Houston...
Pending U.S. Executions
Posted on November 16, 20092009November17th ~ Larry Bill Elliott (Virginia)http://www.vadp.org/alerts/execution-alerts/october-5th-execution-date-set-for-larry-elliott.html17th ~ Gerald Eldridge (Texas)http://tcadp.org/index.php?page=write-governor-bpp18th ~ Danielle Simpson (Texas) - Volunteerhttp://tcadp...
If You Hire an Attorney, You Won't be Sentenced to Death
Posted on November 15, 2009If you hire a lawyer, the chances are you won't be sentenced to death in Houston. University of Denver Criminologist Scott Phillips reviewed 504 capital indictments over three decades in Harris County, Texas, and found that defendants who hired lawyers for the entire trial were never sentenced to death -- and were more likely to be acquitted...
STARVIN' FOR JUSTICE 2010
Posted on November 12, 2009June 29 through July 2, 2010 17th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC Read the who, what, when, where, why and how of this important annual abolitionist event by visiting our website...
Ehsan Fattahian was Hanged Early This Morning
Posted on November 11, 2009Iran Human Rights, November 11: According to reliable sources in Iran, the Kurdish political prisoner Ehsan Fattahian was hanged in Sanandaj today. The numerous campaigns by the local and international human rights groups to stop his execution did not give any result...
Viewpoint: Postponed justice
Posted on November 11, 2009"Postponed Justice" is the title of Jillian Sheridan's editorial in the Daily Texan.The Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice held a hearing yesterday to talk with the Texas Forensic Science Commission?s new chairman, John Bradley. They discussed, among other things, whether or not Bradley is serving as a political pawn for Gov...
John Bradley's Use of Misinformation to Push His Political Agenda
Posted on November 11, 2009Yesterday, John Bradley, the new chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, testified to the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. The question is whether Bradley's testimony to the committee or any comments he gives to the media can be trusted. Based on the statements he gave to the media during the last session of the Texas Legislature regarding the Law of Parties bill, Bradley seems to be comfortable using hyperbole if not outright propaganda-like misinformation to push his own political agenda...
John Bradley: FSC Investigations Should be Secret
Posted on November 09, 2009?It?s not a good idea to conduct an investigation in a public forum?- John BradleyWilliamson County District Attorney John Bradley thinks Forensic Science Commission investigations should be secret and not open to public scrutiny, according to the following article by Mary Alice Robbins of Texas Lawyer...
Tune in Online: Hearing Tuesday on Texas Forensics
Posted on November 09, 2009In Austin tomorrow morning, the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee will question John Bradley, the newly appointed chairman of the state Forensic Science Commission, about the panel?s ongoing work. Before Gov. Rick Perry replaced four commission members, the panel was in the process of reviewing forensic evidence used against Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in 2004...
Keith Hampton Running for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Posted on November 09, 2009A few months ago, TMN wrote a post asking "After Todd Wilingham and Sharon Keller debacles, where are the Democratic candidates challenging members of the Court of Criminal Appeals?" Where are the Democratic candidates challenging the incumbents on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals who are running for re-election in 2010? The CCA allowed an innocent person to be executed - Todd Willingham...
Eric Wrinkles on the Oprah Winfrey show
Posted on November 09, 2009Tomorrow at 4 pm EST, the Oprah Winfrey show will focus on the case of Eric Wrinkles, who was sentenced to death in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, for killing his estranged wife and two of her relatives while he was in a meth-induced psychosis. The show includes interviews with Wrinkles and victims' family members...
Rep. Hank Johnson Introduces Bill to protect innocent Americans from Execution
Posted on November 06, 2009Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), along with Constitution Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers [D-MI], Crime Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott [D-VA], Rep. Anthony Weiner [D-NY] , Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee [D-TX], and Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis [D-GA] today introduced the Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act (H...
Contact Governor Perry to Urge Clemency for Khristian Oliver, Whose Jury Consulted the Bible During Deliberations on Death Penalty
Posted on November 05, 2009From 2008 5th Circuit ruling on Khristian Oliver: The jury?s use of the Bible during the sentencing phase of Oliver?s trial amounted to an improper external influence on the jury?s deliberations. However, Oliver has failed to rebut the state court?s factual finding that the Bible did not prejudice the jury?s decision...
KPFT Execution Watch on November 5th
Posted on November 04, 2009Khristian Oliver's jury consulted the Bible before sentencing him to death. On Thursday, the state of Texas plans to carry out the sentence. If they do, Execution Watch will have a show.KPFT Houston 90.1 FM, HD-2 channelStreaming live 6-7 p.m. CT on kpft...
Juan Melendez - Innocent, Exonerated Former Death Row Prisoner to Tour Texas Nov. 9-18
Posted on November 02, 2009Last week, three exonerated, innocent former death row prisoners (Curtis McCarty, Shujaa Graham and Ron Keine) attended the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty. While they were here, they delivered a petition with 6,000 names to Rick Perry urging him to acknowledge that Todd Willingham was innocent and to establish a moratorium on executions...
Contact Board of Pardons and Paroles to Urge Clemency for Khristian Oliver, Whose Jury Consulted the Bible During Deliberations on Death Penalty
Posted on November 02, 2009Kristian Oliver, who is scheduled for execution in Texas on Thursday, November 5, was sentenced to death by a jury whose members consulted the Bible during their deliberations of whether Oliver should receive the death penalty. During deliberations on sentencing, one of the jurors apparently read the following passage aloud to his fellow jurors: ?And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death...
America?s Real Death Panels
Posted on October 30, 2009Diana Novak, a fall 2009 editorial intern at In These Times and a contributor to Chicago INNERVIEW has writen the following article about jurors in the capital cases.Next spring, Texas will decide whether or not to become the first state to admit it executed an innocent man...
Video: 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty
Posted on October 29, 2009Exonerated death-row inmates and family members of inmates on death-row leaded the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty on October 24, 2009 at the Texas Capitol in Austin.Click here to watch the video on YouTube
The Prison Machine: Teach-in explores hyper-incarceration in U.S
Posted on October 29, 2009The Student Prison Caucus is holding a teach-in presentation and dialogue about the hyper-incarceration phenomenon in the United States and the Prison Industrial Complex. The teach-in will provide an opportunity for dialogue between those presenting, the Student Prison Caucus, and students and community members who are interested in learning about or being involved in the movement to stop hyper-incarceration...
Video of Last Night's Protest in Austin as Reginald Blanton was Executed in Huntsville; Reginald's Mother and Supporters from their Chuch Attended
Posted on October 28, 2009Last night in Austin, Reginald Blanton's mother and members of her church from San Antonio joined more than 60 supporters at the Texas Capitol to stand protest as the execution of her son was taking place in Huntsville Texas. Also in attendance to protest the execution were two innocent, exonerated former death row prisoners, Shujaa Graham and Curtis McCarty...
Breaking News: Charges Dropped in the Yogurt Shop Case
Posted on October 28, 2009Our members at the Travis County courthouse are reporting that Judge Lynch has dropped all charges in the the Yogurt Shop case. Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott are both a free man!
March to Abolish the Death Penalty in the News
Posted on October 26, 2009"Protesters voice concerns about death penalty," is Bobby Longoria's article in today's The Daily Texan.Hundreds of signs adorned with crossed out nooses and photos of executed men were held by protestors on the steps of the state Capitol on Saturday as they called for the exoneration of executed Texas man Cameron Todd Willingham...
Front Page of Dallas Morning News
Posted on October 26, 2009Dallas Morning News has published a large picture from the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty in the front page of their Sunday paper. The image appeared along side an article titled, "Willingham's innocence in fire unclear."
A Mother's Plea - Save Reginal Blanton
Posted on October 26, 2009Reginald Blanton is scheduled for execution in Texas on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. On Oct 24, Anna Terrell, the mother of Reginald Blanton, spoke at the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty at the Texas Capitol in Austin. She was allowed to see her son for the first time in over a year on Friday, October 26...
Not Another Legal Lynching! Save Reginald Blanton!
Posted on October 26, 2009PROTEST THE EXECUTION! TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH AT 5:30PM TEXAS STATE CAPITOL Texas plans to take the life of death row prisoner Reginald Blanton on October 27th. Reginald?s case is riddled with injustice. He was convicted of killing his best friend Carlos Garza over jewelry...
Today is the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty in Austin at 2 PM at the Texas Capitol
Posted on October 24, 2009Today! October 24, 2009 at 2 PMAustin, TexasTexas State Capitol Building South Side (11th and Congress)Three innocent, exonerated former death row prisoners will be among the special guests today at the Tenth Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty October 24, 2009 at 2 PM in Austin, Texas at the Texas Capitol on the South Steps at 11th and Congress...
Former Texas Governor Mark White Approved Execution of Man Who Did Not Kill Anyone But Was Convicted Under the Law of Parties
Posted on October 23, 2009Former Texas Governor Mark White has recently been in the news because he has changed his mind on the death penalty and now believes that a sentence of life without the possibility of parole is an acceptable substitute for the death penalty as a way "to make certain we didn't have unfortunate execution of an innocent person", (NPR, October 21, 2009, "Former Texas Governor Rethinks Death Penalty")...
Panel Discussion Tonight: What's It Like to Be Innocent on Death Row?
Posted on October 23, 2009Tonight, October 23, 7:00 PMUT campus, Texas Union building, Sinclair Suite (room 3.128)Speakers:Shujaa Graham was exonerated in 1981 from California's death row. As a prisoner at San Quentin in the 70's Shujaa was active in the Black Prison movement and in the Black Panther Party...
Tonight on CNN AC360: Randi Kaye Will Report on Todd Willingham; She Interviews David Martin in His Waco Office
Posted on October 23, 2009From the AC 360 Blog.Program Note: Watch Randi Kaye's full report ? including her interview with David Martin tonight on AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.A photograph of Cameron Todd Willingham.Randi Kaye| BIOAC360° CorrespondentI came to Texas this week to look deeper into a story I?ve been covering for a few years now for AC360°...
DPIC Releases New Report on Costs of the Death Penalty and Police Chiefs' Views
Posted on October 22, 2009The Death Penalty Information Center has released its latest report, "Smart on Crime: Reconsidering the Death Penalty in a Time of Economic Crisis." The report combines an analysis of the costs of the death penalty with a newly released national poll of police chiefs who put capital punishment at the bottom of their law enforcement priorities...
Tonight on CNN Anderson Cooper 360: Randi Kaye Sits Down with Todd Willingham's Unethical Trial Attorney David Martin
Posted on October 22, 2009Tonight on CNN Anderson Cooper 360, Randi Kaye sits down with Todd Willingham's trial attorney David Martin, the one who made such a fool of himself last week on CNN. He likely will try to look less crazy tonight, but he will probably continue his unethical behavior of attacking his former client and revealing confidential attorney-client communications...
Uncomfortable jokes about executing prisoners by former Texas Death House warden
Posted on October 22, 2009The following in Stephen Dean's report on Jim Willet's recent talk at the University of Houston. Joking about executions was more than some students and college professors were ready to hear, especially when the stand up comic was in charge of executing so many Texas prisoners...
The Daily Texan: March Against the Death Penalty
Posted on October 21, 2009The following is Hooman Hedayati's column in today's The Daily Texan about the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty.Would you oppose the death penalty if it were proven that Texas has executed an innocent man? If so, remember this name: Cameron Todd Willingham...
Message to 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty Participants from Bill Pelke, President of Journey of Hope ? From Violence to Healing
Posted on October 21, 2009Congratulations to all participants in the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty.Thank you for your stand on this human rights abuse. I wish I could be there today but family circumstances prevent it. I have had the pleasure of participating in several other marches in the past...
Rick Perry's General Counsel on Day of Todd Willingham's Execution Later Cleared in Own Arson Case
Posted on October 20, 2009The news video below talks about Texas Governor Rick Perry's then-general counsel David Medina's role in advising Perry on the day of Todd Willingham's execution. Medina was later appointed to the Texas Supreme Court by Perry. In 2007, Medina's wife was charged with arson and Medina himself was charged with records tampering after their home burned down...
Mother of Todd Willingham to Lead 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty Saturday Oct 24 in Austin
Posted on October 19, 2009Eugenia Willingham, mother of Cameron Todd Willingham, an innocent person executed by Texas, will lead the "10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty" in Austin on October 24, 2009. The march and rally will include the delivery of a petition with thousands of signatures urging Governor Rick Perry and the State of Texas to acknowledge that the fire in the Cameron Todd Willingham case was not arson, therefore no crime was committed and on February 17, 2004 Texas executed an innocent man...
Former Texas Governor Mark White Says It May Be Time to Do Away With Death Penalty
Posted on October 19, 2009The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Former Texas Governor Mark White who was involved in the executions of 20 people: says it may be time for Texas to do away with the death penalty.The death penalty is no longer a deterrent to murder, and long stays for the condemned on death row shows justice is not swift, White said...
Rick Perry's Chief of Staff Writes Dishonest Letter-to-Editor Regarding Release of Todd Willingham Execution Memos
Posted on October 19, 2009The Chief of Staff of Governor Rick Perry, Ray Sullivan, has a letter-to-the-editor in today's Longview News-Journal criticizing the paper's Wednesday editorial in which the paper criticized Perry for refusing to release all the documents in the Todd Willingham case that would show whether and to what extent the Governor considered the information given to them by Willingham's lawyer on the day of the execution...
Capital Defense Weekly for the weeks since September 21, 2009
Posted on October 19, 2009The following is Capital Defense Weekly 's email announcement for the weeks since September 21, 2009.This edition leads off with developments in Ohio. A Sixth Circuit panel stayed the upcoming execution of Lawrence Reynold due to concerns about a repeat of Mr...
Lawyers Speaking Out in Response to Todd Willingham's Trial Attorney's "Utterly Disgraceful" Performance on CNN
Posted on October 17, 2009Early Friday morning, we posted the video from last Thursday's CNN AC 360 program when Todd Willingham's trial lawyer was on the program and made remarks that we thought violated his attorney-client obligations, which bind a lawyer even after his client has died...
Aidan Quinn Performs a Scene from "The Exonerated"
Posted on October 16, 2009At the Innocence Project Celebration of Freedom & Justice, Aidan Quinn performed the Kerry Max Cook story from the award-winning Broadway play "The Exonerated."For more on wrongful convictions and stories of people exonerated after serving years in prison for crimes they didn't commit, visit http://wwww...
Today: National Day of Action for Reginald Blanton
Posted on October 14, 2009NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ? FAX AND PHONE JAM! WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH Texas plans to take the life of death row prisoner Reginald Blanton on October 27th. Reginald?s case is riddled with injustice. He was convicted of killing his best friend Carlos Garza over jewelry...
Kentucky Journey of Hope
Posted on October 12, 2009The Journey of Hope will have a team in Kentucky, November 2-5, 2009.Shujaa Graham, murder victim family member and exonerated death row inmate, Terri Steinburg, a mother whose has a young son, Jason, on death row in Virginia, and Bill Pelke, murder victims family member and president of the Journey of Hope will conduct a speaking tour sponsored by the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the death penalty...
Texas Execution Looms After Jury Consult Bible
Posted on October 12, 2009A Texas man who faces execution after jurors at his trial consulted the Bible when deliberating his fate should have his death sentence commuted, Amnesty International said on Friday [October 9, 2009].Khristian Oliver, 32, is set to be killed on 5 November after jurors used Biblical passages supporting the death penalty to help them decide whether he should live or die...
"I did feel some pressure from them, yes," says Former Chair of Texas Forensic Science Commission about Rick Perry
Posted on October 12, 2009The Chicago Tribune, which wrote a lengthy article about Todd Willingham in December 2004 that first brought the case to national attention, has a new article quoting the replaced chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, Samuel Bassett, saying that Governor Rick Perry pressured the committee...
Rick Perry Hiding Possible Smoking Gun Type Information in Cover Up in Todd Willingham Case
Posted on October 12, 2009According to an article in today's Houston Chronicle, Texas Governor Rick Perry is refusing to release documents that could show whether or not he considered or even read the information sent to him on the day of the execution of Todd Willingham informing him that there was new evidence casting doubt on Willingham's guilt and raising the question of whether Texas was about to execute an innocent man...
Reginald Blanton's Statement from Yesterday's Rally in San Antonio
Posted on October 11, 2009Despite me being torn away from what was then my budding family, torn from my dreams, and wrongly arrested; despite the way Detective Matjeka terrorized my mind in his office; the way he yelled in my face and said, "They are going to stick a needle in your arm and you are goingto die!" All because I wouldn't sign a statement for him; despite ...
Behnood Shojaei is executed in Iran on ?International Day Against the Death Penalty?
Posted on October 11, 2009I lie awake in bed. Tossing and turning thinking of his face. I have just found out the devastating news of the loss of one of our children: Behnood Shojaei. He is one of 160 children whose lives we have been trying to save for the past few years, but he is not a number...
7th World Day against the Death Penalty
Posted on October 10, 2009Initiatives of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty mark the 7th WorldDay against the Death Penalty on Saturday, 10 October 2009. Every year since2003 abolitionists have organized events around the world on this day to say No tothe death penalty...
Letters to the Editor: Obstruction of justice?
Posted on October 08, 2009The Austin American-Statesman has published several letters, including one from Allison Dieter of Texas Moratorium Network in response to Gov. Perry move to cover up the case of Cameron Todd Willingham. Obstruction of justice? Re: Oct. 1 article "Governor shakes up forensic agency...
Rally in San Antonio for Reginald Blanton
Posted on October 08, 2009Saturday, October 10, 3:00 PMTexas plans to take the life of death row prisoner Reginald Blanton on October 27. Reginald's case is riddled with injustice. He was convicted of killing his best friend Carlos Garza over jewelry. The evidence against him is of two witnesses: his brother and his brother's then-pregnant girlfriend...
Michael Hall: Memo to Kay
Posted on October 06, 2009?Texas Monthly's Michael Hall gives advice to Kay Bailey Hutchison on how to criticize Perry for his cover up of Todd Willingham investigation.Hey Senator Hutchison, would your campaign have any interest in painting your opponent, Governor Rick Perry, as a corrupt, cold-hearted political hack who will do anything to cover his ass when he looks like he did something really bad? I figured you might, so I drafted this memorandum to help you express your outrage at Perry?s latest actions...
Rick Perry's Cover Up of Todd Willingham Report on Front Page of CNN.com
Posted on October 06, 2009CNN is running the story about Rick Perry's cover-up in the Todd Willingham case on the front page of CNN.com. Did Texas execute innocent man?. The report includes an interview with Texas Moratorium Network's Scott Cobb. CNN's Randi Kaye looks at whether politics is behind the delayed hearing on a controversial Texas execution...
Hear Texas Observer's Dave Mann on NPR
Posted on October 02, 2009The Observer's Associate Editor talks to "All Things Considered" host Robert Siegel about Perry's astounding move to replace key members of the Forensic Science Commission. Perry's move came one day before the commission was to examine a report on faulty arson science that almost certainly led to the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was condemned for setting a fire that killed his 2 children...
Is Perry pulling a Nixon?
Posted on October 02, 2009That's the title of Lisa Falkenberg's column in today's Houston Chronicle.It would be a dangerous political liability for any candidate: The possibility that, as governor, Rick Perry presided over the execution of an innocent man Yet, that's the prospect raised in recent years by several arson experts and exhaustive national media reports in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham...
Gubernatorial Candidates Kinky Friedman and Hank Gilbert on Todd Willingham
Posted on October 02, 2009Former Independent and now Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman has release a statement in response to Governor. Rick Perry's removal of three members of the Texas Forensic Science Commission saying, "You know what you call it when an innocent person is executed? Murder...
Call Governor Perry to Protest his Shocking Cancellation of Meeting on Todd Willingham Case and his Replacement of Chair of Forensic Science Commision
Posted on October 01, 2009We were planning to attend the meeting of the Texas Forensic Science Commission on Friday and hold a demonstration to "Shout it from the Rooftops" that Todd Willingham was innocent. Now, Perry has canceled the meeting and replaced the Commission's chair and some other members with Williamson County's DA John Bradley...
A National Speaking Tour of the CEDP
Posted on September 29, 2009LYNCHING THEN, LYNCHING NOW:THE HISTORY OF RACISM AND THE DEATH PENALTY IN AMERICA.A National Speaking Tour of the CEDPSTOPS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THIS FALL AND SPRING.IN AUSTIN THIS SPRING (DATE TBA)The 2009-2010 Campaign to End the Death annual national speaking tour will be a teach-in Tour on the historic link between the death penalty and lynching in the United States...
Reginald Blanton's mother, Anna Reese, delivers powerful plea for the life of her son
Posted on September 29, 2009Reginald Blanton's mother, Anna Reese, delivers powerful plea for the life of her son at a rally at the Texas Capitol on Sept 26, 2009. Reginald Blanton is scheduled to be executed in Texas on October 27, 2009. If you can not see the video below, click here to watch it on YouTube...
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HEAP: A BOOK TALK WITH BLACK PANTHER ROBERT HILLARY KING
Posted on September 29, 2009Thursday, October 8th, 8pm, MonkeyWrench Books (110 E. North Loop)Former Black Panther and Angola 3 political prisoner Robert Hillary King speaks on his new book "From the Bottom of the Heap: The Autobiography of Black Panther Robert Hillary King." In 1970, a jury convicted Robert Hillary King of a crime he did not commit and sentenced him to 35 years in prison...
Penpal Requests
Posted on September 27, 2009The following two inmates in Polunsky's general population are hoping to find a pen friend. If interested you can contact them at:Steve Carrington#1491488Polunsky Unit3872 FM 350 SouthLivingston TexasSteven Turknett#1383440Polunsky Unit3872 FM 350 SouthLivingston Texas
8.30.09 Poem and Journal from Kenneth Foster
Posted on September 22, 2009Hello friends, family and abolitionists! I had a wonderful visit with our friend and brother Kenneth on Sunday at the McConnell Unit. He looks healthy and happy and we were able to take pictures. Unfortunately our visit was through glass, but we have applied for a contact visit through the warden...
Christopher Coleman Execution Watch - September 22, 2009
Posted on September 22, 2009On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Texas plans to execute Christopher Coleman for a triple homicide in which he denies being the shooter and in which 11th-hour revelations have prompted some to question the fairness of his trial. If his execution takes place, we'll broadcast...
10th Annual March For Abolition Promo Video
Posted on September 21, 2009The first official March For Abolition video is made by the Austin CEDP's Cartel Pagel.
Governor Perry Defends Execution of Willingham and San Antonio Express-News Responds
Posted on September 21, 2009The Dallas Morning News is the first to get Governor Rick Perry to speak publicly about the wrongful execution of Todd Willingham. No surprise from Perry. He rejects the scientific analysis and thinks Willingham was guilty. It is time for the people of Texas to elect a new governor...
What I Want My Words To Do To You - UT Film Screening, September 24
Posted on September 18, 2009The Center for Women's & Gender Studies at UT Austin invites you to a screening of the award-winning documentary What I Want My Words To Do To You. Thursday, September 24, 20098:00 PMCalhoun (CAL) Hall, Room 100 on the UT Campus (See map)Free and Open to the PublicWhat I Want My Words To Do To You offers an unprecedented look into the minds and hearts of the women inmates of New York?s Bedford Hills Correctional Facility...
ABC Nightline to Report on Todd Willingham
Posted on September 18, 2009BC News' Nightline has announced on Twitter that tonight they will be airing a story by reporter Terry Moran on the case of Cameron Todd Willingham. Check your local listings for the time. Here in Austin Texas, Nightline airs after the local 10 PM news, so at 10:30 pm...
Reception for Texas After Violence Project
Posted on September 10, 2009Thursday, September 10, 6 - 8 p.m., Reception for TAVP friends & friends-to-be, Mi Madre's Restaurant.Please join TAVP on Thursday, September 10, 2009 for a little bit of music and food, and a few words about why the work of the Texas After Violence Project matters...
Texas Issues Apology For Executing Innocent Man
Posted on September 09, 2009This week's "Moment of Clarity" video by comedian Lee Camp creates an alternate reality where Texas actually apologizes for killing an innocent man.In this interview from his appearance on MSNBC, David Grann, who wrote the article "Trial by Fire" in the New Yorker about the Todd Willingham case, says there is "not a single shred of evidence of arson"...
Screening of State Vs. Reed by Ryan Polomski and Frank Bustoz
Posted on September 08, 2009Join the Austin Campaign to END the Death Penalty Wednesday, September 9th @ 7pm at UT campus, MAIN 26* for a screening of State Vs. Reed, an award winning documentary about Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed. A Q&A will follow this event.(*Note the room change)*******************************************************A SCREENING OF THE AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CASE OF TEXAS DEATH ROW PRISONER RODNEY REED...
After Todd Willingham and Sharon Keller Debacles, Where are the Candidates Challenging Members of the CCA?
Posted on September 07, 2009Where are the Democratic candidates challenging the incumbents on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals who are running for re-election in 2010? The CCA allowed an innocent person to be executed - Todd Willingham. It is the court that one of its own current members says became a national laughingstock years before Sharon Keller said "we close at 5"...
Rice University Teach-In for Troy Davis
Posted on September 02, 2009The Death Penalty, Race, Institutional Flaws and What You Can DoIn 1991 Troy Anthony Davis was convicted of the murder of off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail and sentenced to death in Georgia. In the case Davis pleaded innocent and through out his time on death row he has never changed this assertion...
Innocent but Dead
Posted on September 01, 2009That's the title of Bob Herbert's column in today's New York Times.There is a long and remarkable article in the current New Yorker about a man who was executed in Texas in 2004 for deliberately setting a fire that killed his three small children. Rigorous scientific analysis has since shown that there was no evidence that the fire in a one-story, wood frame house in Corsicana was the result of arson, as the authorities had alleged...
The Eye and Tooth Project: Confronting Capital Punishment in Texas
Posted on September 01, 2009By John SullivanCall it the ultimate deterrent; call it retribution, or closure, or simply an ?eye for an eye,? Americans have historically supported capital punishment with strong resolve and a clear national conscience. Recently, however, this mandate has weakened as pressures for reappraisal and change kick against the goad of tradition...
New Yorker Examines Texas' Execution of Todd Willingham - Judge Jackson's Flawd Arguments Against Willingham
Posted on September 01, 2009In the Sept 7, 2009 edition of the New Yorker David Grann comprehensively examines the Todd Willingham case in which an innocent person was executed by Texas. The proven execution of an innocent person means the end of the death penalty in the United States...
Music Video: "Warn Them" - The Welfare Poets
Posted on August 31, 2009Title track from the "Warn Them" album, the latest release from The Welfare Poets.THE WELFARE POETS: The Welfare Poets are a collective of activists, educators, and artists together since 1990. Through teaching residencies and workshops, through activism around community struggles and through sharp-edged performances of music that incorporates Hip Hop, Bomba y Plena, Latin Jazz and other rhythms, the Welfare Poets bring information and inspiration to those facing oppression and those fighting for liberation...
San Antonio Express-News: Keller is unsuited for top court job
Posted on August 27, 2009The San Antonio Express-News, a newspaper that ran long articles covering each day of the trial of Judge Sharon Keller that took place in that city, says in an editorial today titled "Keller is unsuited for top court job" that "one step toward restoring confidence in the system is to hold Keller accountable for the events that took place in 2007 and remove her as presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals...
DMN Editorial: Judge Keller's disappointing testimony
Posted on August 25, 2009Dallas Morning News is the second newspaper in Texas after the Austin American-Statesman to publish an editorial following last week's trial of Judge Sharon keller. It was impossible not to gasp last week when Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller addressed the question of what she would do differently if she had a do-over in the execution of Michael Richard...
Texas Executed an Innocent Person: Cameron Todd Willingham
Posted on August 25, 2009The Chicago Tribune is breaking the story that the investigator for the Texas Forensic Science Commission is going to report that the fire for which Cameron Todd Willingham was sentenced to death for setting to murder his children was an accidental fire and not arson...
NYT: An Unfit Judge
Posted on August 22, 2009That's the title of New York Times' Friday editorial calling for the removal of Judge Sharon Keller.Judge Sharon Keller, the Texas appellate court judge who closed the clerk?s office before a death row inmate could file a last-minute appeal, is fighting to keep her job...
Keller drags Texas through the mud
Posted on August 20, 2009The following is last Monday's Austin American-Statesman editorial on the trial of Judge Sharon Keller. As each side rests its case on Thursday, it is good to read this editorial again and remember that closing the courtroom at 5 PM was only one of the many outrageous decisions Sharon Keller has made during her career as the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals...
Evidence Presented at Trial Supports Removal of Sharon Keller from CCA
Posted on August 20, 2009Students Against the Death Penalty which joined Texas Moratorium Network in filing a judicial complaint against Sharon Keller in November 2007, has monitored the trial of Sharon Keller and finds the evidence presented at trial supports the severest sanctions against Keller - her removal from office for violating the Execution-Day Procedures of her court and for casting discredit on the Texas judiciary...
Judge Sharon Keller Trial: Lesson for Activists
Posted on August 19, 2009The following article was in today's New York Times. It is significant that this reprehensible, pro-prosecution judge, who has done so much more than kill Michael Richard by "closing at 5:00," is now a defendant. It is important for all of us who are activists to recognize the role we play in bringing down capital punishment...
Sharon Keller Trial - Day 1
Posted on August 17, 2009A group of people who signed a judicial complaint against Judge Sharon Keller held a demonstration at the Bexar County Courthouse before Keller's trial began. The trial took place in the courtroom of David Berchelmann jr, presiding judge of the 37th District Court...
U.S. Supreme Court Orders Hearing for Troy Davis
Posted on August 17, 2009The Innocence Project is reporting that in a highly unusual step, the U.S. Supreme Court today ordered a new hearing in the case of Troy Davis, who has been on Georgia?s death row for nearly two decades for a murder he says he didn?t commit. Ruling on a habeas corpus petition from Davis, the court ordered a federal judge to ?receive testimony and findings of fact as to whether evidence that could not have been obtained at the time of trial clearly establishes [Davis?] innocence...
Demonstration Before Trial of Judge Sharon Keller - August 17 at 8:00 AM in San Antonio
Posted on August 16, 2009Representatives of Peoples' Judicial Complaint Signed by About 1,900 Members of the Public to Participate in Demonstration at Trial of Sharon KellerA group of people who signed a judicial complaint against Judge Sharon Keller will hold a demonstration at 8 AM in San Antonio at the Bexar County Courthouse before Keller's trial begins on August 17...
Ohio Governor Denies Clemency
Posted on August 14, 2009Earlier today, Ohio governor Ted Stickland made the decision to deny clemency to Jason Getsy. The governor's decision directly contradicts that which was made by the Ohio Parole Board on July 19, 2009.Jason Getsy participated in a murder-for-hire scheme that killed Ann Serafino and left Charles Serafino, her son, critically injured...
HOWARD ZINN TO SPEAK AT THE CEDP CONVENTION
Posted on August 14, 2009We are proud and honored to announce that historian, author and activist Howard Zinn will be the keynote speaker at the Campaign to End the Death Penalty's 9th annual convention! The convention will be held on the weekend of November 7-8 at the University of Chicago, and Howard will be speaking on Saturday night...
Time: A Texas Judge on Trial: Closed to a Death-Row Appeal?
Posted on August 13, 2009The following is Time Magazine's article on the upcoming trial of Judge Sharon "Killer" Keller in San Antonio. By Hilary Hylton / AustinSoft-spoken and a devout Christian, Judge Sharon Keller presides as chiefjustice of Texas' highest criminal court. She's also known as "Sharon Killer"by her opponents, who are going to see her in court next week on charges ofjudicial misconduct...
Passage of Racial Justice Act ?A Great Spiritual Victory? Say Supporters
Posted on August 06, 2009With the passage of the North Carolina Racial Justice Act by the NC Senate yesterday by a vote of 25-18 the State of North Carolina stepped up to lead the South away from the worst of its racist past. The bill allows for court reviews over capital defendants? claims that racial bias influenced their cases...
Reginald Blanton's Statement About His Execution Date
Posted on July 29, 2009Death SalivatesOctober 27th 2009Execution Date 2pm. 7-16-09. I just woke up. I had slept for exactly 8 hours. I am a night owl. Yet, I was not rejuvenated. I did not feel balanced. I told myself that something was happening in the Universe. In the distant dark galaxy of my being I felt something approaching...
Free Film Screening: Willie Francis Must Die Again
Posted on July 29, 2009On August 6, 2009, "Willie Francis Must Die Again" Film Screening will take place at 7 PM. The documentary is about Willie Francis who was a teenager wrongfully accused of killing a pharmacist and survived a botched electrocution only to lose his Louisiana Supreme Court appeal and be executed again...
Planning Meeting For 10th Annual March Against the Death Penalty in Texas!
Posted on July 28, 2009Wednesday, July 29th at 7pmCarver Library, Room 4, in AustinThe March to Stop Executions has been held each October since 2000 in cooperation with several Texas and national anti-death penalty organizations. It is a coming together of activists, family members of those on death row, community leaders, exonerated prisoners and all those calling for abolition...
Texas Monthly: "The Judgement of Sharon Keller"
Posted on July 24, 2009Texas Monthly has a long article by Michael Hall in its August edition titled "The Judgement of Sharon Keller" about the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Keller said "we close at 5" when asked by attorneys for Michael Richard in 2007 to allow them to file a late appeal for Michael Richard on the day of his scheduled execution...
Death penalty is abolished in Kazakhstan
Posted on July 22, 2009Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan?s President, has signed the law abolishing death penalty in all cases except acts of terrorism entailing loss of life and especially grave crimes committed in wartime. The law includes the right to seek pardon.Abolishing the death penalty has been one of the main objectives of President Nazarbayev...
Urge your MOC's to Remove Death Penalty Provision
Posted on July 21, 2009Dear Abolitionists,Today (7/20/09) the U.S. Senate passed the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, with an amendment making hate crimes punishable by death. Below please find the statement of the President of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, of which NCADP is an active member...
Troy Davis on CNN's Anderson Cooper
Posted on July 21, 2009Troy Davis' case will be featured on CNN's Anderson Cooper tonight. I will try to post a link to the coverage tomorrow.
Urgent Federal Action
Posted on July 20, 2009Dear Friends, Senator Sessions is expected to offer an amendment to the Mathew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act which would authorize the penalty for hate crimes offenses. The Sessions amendment will introduce constitutional issues concerning the use of capital punishment for non homicidal crimes...
Message from Kenneth Foster
Posted on July 18, 2009Greetings Brother of the Struggle!I begin this missive with nothing but Plenty Much Love, Honor and Respect as I bow to the Right to those whose path is Righteous and also to those Brothers and Sisters who have fallen and are amongst the Kings and Queens that sit in Heaven...
999th Person Executed in U.S. By Lethal Injection
Posted on July 18, 2009On July 14, John Fautenberry became the 999th person executed by lethal injection in the United States. Amnesty International Canada francophone in Montreal on Tuesday protested Fautenberry's execution and the upcoming 1000th lethal injection in the U...
Countdown to USA's 1000th Execution by Lethal Injection
Posted on July 17, 2009Pending U.S. Executions (as of 7/17/09)July 21 Marvallous Keene Ohio 1000 23 Roderick Newton Texas 1001August 7 Kenneth Baumruk Missouri 1002 18 Jason Getsy Ohio 1003 20 David Wood Texas 1004September 15 Romell Broom Ohio 1005 16 Stephen Moody Texas 1006 22 Christopher Coleman Texas 1007 24 Kenneth Mosley Texas 1008 30 John Balentine Texas 1009Methods of execution and numbers executed by that method in the USA are:electrocution (155), firing squad (2), gas chamber (11), hanging (3),and lethal injection (999)...
Press Release: Reginald Blanton
Posted on July 17, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT:CAMPAIGN TO END THE DEATH PENALTYLily Hughes (512) 482-0642 or Laura Brady (512) 638-0403Friday, July 17th: Austin's chapter of the Campaign to END the Death Penalty condemns the execution date recently given to Texas Death Row prisoner Reginald Blanton...
Tonight: Troy's case on BET
Posted on July 17, 2009Watch 106 & Park BET Show from 6:00 to 7:30 pm and NAACP members will highlight the Troy Davis Case.
Judge Sotomayor on the Death Penalty
Posted on July 14, 2009From NYT's The Caucus blog:Putting on the Greens | 12:10 p.m. Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, lamented many decisions made by the Supreme Court over time that he said went well beyond the jurisdiction of the court. It has micro-managed the death penalty, he said, ?relied on international law that the people have never even adopted...
"Inside Death Row," Nat'l Geographic Channel, Sunday at 8pm
Posted on July 12, 2009On Sunday, July 12, at 8pm (Tonight), the National Geographic Channel is airing a program they filmed in Huntsville and Livingston, Texas last winter. It is on a show called EXPLORER and the show is titled "Inside Death Row." We believe the three men featured in the program are Willie Pondexter, Johnny Ray Johnson, and David Martinez...
What to the Prisoner is Your Fourth of July?
Posted on July 04, 2009In this video, Danny Glover recites Frederick Douglass' speech on the 4th of July in 1852 titled "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" A few years ago, death-row prisoner Howard Guidry wrote a commentary on this subject entitled ?What to the Prisoner is Your Fourth of July?? that was widely disseminated...
Austin Candlelight Vigil and Protest to Mourn those Killed in Iran
Posted on June 28, 2009700 people gathered at the Pfluger pedestrian bridge in Austin, Texas on June 23 to mourn those killed and injured in Iran. Youtube link.Austin Protest Against Election Fraud in Iran. Youtube link.In light of the tragic and blatantly fraudulent presidential elections in Iran, Iranian citizens of Austin came together to hold a peaceful demonstration at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 in solidarity with the people of Iran and to show their disappointment with and disapproval of the election results...
Videos on Release of Yogurt Shop Defendants Mike Scott and Robert Springsteen
Posted on June 26, 2009Here are two videos on the release of Mike Scott and Robert Springsteen from jail after more than ten years incarceration. h/t stopexecutions blog.On June 24, 2009, family and friends of Mike Scott and Robert Springsteen welcomed them to freedom after ten years in jail for a crime they did not commit...
Join the Austin CEDP Action for Rob and Michael
Posted on June 24, 2009AUSTIN, TX:Members of CEDP Austin are headed to the courthouse RIGHT NOW with a banner--to talk to the media, have a presence and demand DROP THE CHARGES NOW!Not doing anything right now? Go and join them. Call to find out where they're at: 512-417-2241.
Breaking News: Yogurt shop defendants to be released on bail
Posted on June 24, 2009Finally after 10 years in prison and in a stunning development, Judge Lynch has ordered the Yogurt shop defendants to being released on bail. If you are free please come to the Travis County Court House to welcome Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen...
Journey of Hope in Magdeburg, Germany
Posted on June 22, 2009By Daniela Turß (author of the article) and Insa Nieberg (translation) - both Amnesty International MagdeburgOn Thursday the 14th of May 2009 the ?Journey of Hope?stopped in Magdeburg. Three speakers from the United States shared their personal experiences with the death penalty with the audience at the Otto-von-Guericke University...
Sharon Keller's Trial to Be Held in San Antonio Instead of Austin
Posted on June 21, 2009Counsel for the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and Judge Sharon Keller have agreed to hold the trial of Judge Sharon Keller in San Antonio, instead of Austin. The trial will be held in the newly renovated courtroom of David Berchelmann, Jr, presiding judge of the 37th District Court, 100 Dolorosa, San Antonio, Texas 78205...
?Dead Man Walking? Nun and Author Sr. Helen Prejean will Appear on Talk Show To Fight For Life
Posted on June 12, 2009On Friday, June 12th, Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ will appear on the CatholicTV talk show ?This is the Day? as an in-studio guest. Sr. Helen is the author of the book ?Dead Man Walking?, which inspired the film of the same name starring Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon...
Today in History: The Massacre at Lidice
Posted on June 11, 2009On 10 June 1942, German Police Units destroyed the Czech town of Ledice (LED-ECHEE), shooting 167 male inhabitants, and sending the women and children to concentration camps. The town was razed off the map, plowed under, and all trace of it was obliterated...
Bob Ray Sanders on the 200th Execution Under Rick Perry
Posted on June 09, 2009Bob Ray Sanders devotes his Sunday column to the 200th execution under Governor Rick Perry. Here are a few excerpts: Last Tuesday, as the state of Texas prepared to execute Terry Lee Hankins, people gathered in several U.S. cities and on two continents to mark a milestone in Rick Perry?s tenure as governor...
NM: Protest against the 200th execution under Texas Governor Rick Perry
Posted on May 29, 2009Fighting in the Frontlines Working Together to End the Death Penalty Protest against the 200th execution under Texas Governor Rick Perry Saturday May 30th 12:00 Noon Central and Tulane Albuquerque Christy Armell Campaign to End the Death Penalty Albuquerque Chapter 505-304-4703 Christy_n_haylie505@yahoo...
The State of the Death Penalty and Governor Perry's 200th Execution
Posted on May 27, 2009KPFT Open Journal, 90.1 FM (Houston)or www.kpft.org Tune in Friday, May 29, 12:05--1:00pmHosted and produced by Gloria RubacGuests from the Texas Moratorium Network, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, the TexasDeath Penalty Abolition Movement with families of Jeff Wood, Howard Guidry, and Juan Ramirez and more...
Another Texas Prosecutor May Go Down
Posted on May 26, 2009I have posted the video, Another Texas Prosecutor May Go Down, on YouTube with some key words of jailhouse snitch Gary Wayne Harris recanting his testimony which sent Danny Meehan away for 99 years. YouTube is a powerful instrument for drawing attention to a cause, And the cause of the wrongly convicted needs attention...
Protest the 200th Execution in Texas Under Gov. Rick Perry
Posted on May 26, 2009On June 2, 2009, the 200th execution under Texas Governor Rick Perry is scheduled to take place. Since he became governor of Texas in December 2000, Perry has allowed more executions to proceed than any other governor in U.S. history. Terry Hankins is scheduled to be the 200th person executed under Rick Perry...
Video: US Death Chambers
Posted on May 25, 2009Background music was taken from a German song named "Einsamer Hirte."
Shrinking Newsrooms Hurts Abolitionist Movement
Posted on May 25, 2009"Opponents of the death penalty looking to exonerate wrongly accused prisoners say their efforts have been hobbled by the dwindling size of America?s newsrooms, and particularly the disappearance of investigative reporting at many regional papers," the New York Times reports...
Was the Law of Parties Provision in HB 2267 Scuttled Based on Misinformation?
Posted on May 23, 2009First published on the Stop Executions blog.The Law of Parties provision of HB 2267 was taken out of the bill in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee yesterday after Governor Perry threatened to veto it if the bill was sent to him in the same from that it passed the House last Friday...
PASS LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO COMBAT RACISM WITHOUT ANY UNDE
Posted on May 22, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 21, 2009 For more information contact:Rev. William Barber, NC-NAACP (919) 682-4700Jeremy Collins, NCCM (919) 491-2917Charmaine Fuller, CJPC (919) 943-5953 NC-NAACP, HK ON J COALITION, NC COALITION FOR A MORATORIUM AND OTHERS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY: PASS LANDMARK LEGISLATION TO COMBAT RACISM WITHOUT ANY UNDERMINING AMENDMENTS RALEIGH, NC ? Today the Historic Thousands on Jones Street Coalition and the NC Coalition for a Moratorium - with support from recently polled voters?called on North Carolina legislators to pass a clean version of the NC Racial Justice Act, free of amendments that would restart executions before the courts can sort out important legal questions...
Petition -- Do not Execute Reginald Blanton
Posted on May 21, 2009Reginald Blanton's case is up before the supreme court and he needs all the support he can get.Please sign this petition and pass it on!http://www.petitiononline.com/reg2009/petition.htmlDetails can be found at:www.myspace.com/freereggiebwww.freereginaldblanton...
HB 2267, Kenneth Foster Jr Act, to Be Heard in Senate Committee Thursday, May 21
Posted on May 20, 2009HB 2267 will be heard in the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, Thursday, May 21, at 1:30 PM or upon adjournment of the Senate.This is the law of parties bill by Rep Terri Hodge and Rep Harold Dutton, recently renamed the Kenneth Foster, Jr Act. It would require separate trials in capital cases and would prohibit the state from seeking the death penalty against co-defendants in Law of Parties cases if they are not the person who actually killed someone...
"Images from Texas Death Row " Exhibit at Texas Capitol May 18-22
Posted on May 19, 2009Please come to the opening day reception for the exhibit of John Holbrook's death row photographs in the Texas Capitol at 6 PM on Monday and the artist's talk at 7 PM."Images from Texas Death Row" to be Exhibited in the Ground Floor Rotunda of the Texas CapitolMonday, May 18 - Friday May 22Event: Images from Texas Death Row "The Photography of John Holbrook"Sponsor: Texas Friends and Allies Against the Death PenaltyDates: May 18 - May 22Where: The Texas State Capitol Building in the 'Ground Floor Rotunda' (Take elevator down to G)Reception May 18 at 6 PM in the Texas Capitol Members Lounge - Extension, Room E2...
Global Day of Action for Troy Davis
Posted on May 17, 2009Troy Davis is a man on death row with a compelling case for innocence. No murder weapon, no physical evidence, and 7 of 9 eye witnesses have recanted their testimony. Yet no jury has ever heard this evidence. The 11th Circuit Court has denied Troy Davis' most recent petition and a new execution date may come as early as mid-May...
Texas House Passes Kenneth Foster, Jr Act (HB 2267, the Law of Parties Bill)
Posted on May 15, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:CONTACTS: Scott Cobb, President, Texas Moratorium Network, admin@texasmoratorium.org, 512-552-4743;Bryan McCann, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, bmccann@mail.utexas.edu, 512-739-4024Texas House of Representatives Passes Law of Parties Bill (HB 2267)Amendment Adopted for the Bill to be Known as "The Kenneth Foster Jr, Act"Austin, TX ? May 15, 2009 ? The Texas House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2267, "The Kenneth Foster, Jr Act"...
HB 2267 Passes Texas House on 2nd Reading
Posted on May 14, 2009The Texas House of Representatives just passed the Law of Parties bill (HB 2267) on second reading. There was no objection. It passed on a voice vote. It now must pass on 3rd reading by the deadline of Friday at midnight. If it passes on third reading, then it goes to the Senate.
Law of Parties Bill 2 Away from Vote in Texas House
Posted on May 14, 2009The Law of Parties bill (HB 2267) by Rep Terri Hodge and Rep Harold Dutton is only 2 bills away from a vote in the Texas House. Currently voting on HB 2411Watch the video live from the Texas House here (opens a real player stream).
Law of Parties Bill Passes Texas House on Second Reading
Posted on May 14, 2009The Law of Parties bill (HB 2267) by Rep Terri Hodge and Rep Harold Dutton has passed the Texas House on second reading.
Shanda Perkins nomination busted
Posted on May 13, 2009In a rare public rebuke to Gov. Rick Perry, the Texas Senate this afternoon blocked Perry?s nomination of unemployed Burleson banker Shanda Perkins to become a member of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles. After a brief debate, the GOP-controlled Senate by a 24-7 vote sent the nominee of fellow Republican Perry back to the Nominations Committee, where it is expected to die...
Another Setback for Kevin Cooper
Posted on May 11, 2009From the Riverside (CA) Press-Enterprise] Condemned prisoner Kevin Cooper was denied a rehearing Monday by a federal appellate panel in a 114-page order that bristled with dissents, one of them claiming that "the state of California may be about to execute an innocent man...
Death Penalty presentation this Wed. @ Resistencia
Posted on May 11, 2009En el corazon del South Austin tenemos un love for liberation! c/s Red Salmon Arts & Resistencia Bookstore Calendar May 2009 7pm Wednesday May 13, 2009 Red Salmon Arts presents The Death Penalty and the Modern Meaning of Southern Justice: a platica/discussion with Melynda Price Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law Melynda Price teaches in the areas of torts, immigration, law and social science and law and popular culture...
Does Anti-Death Penalty Public Information Campaigns Work?
Posted on May 08, 2009While reading Barkan & Cohn's 2005 paper On reducing white support for the death penalty: A pessimistic appraisal (Criminology & Public Policy, 4, 39-44), I noticed the following assessment of the effectiveness of the public information campaigns by the anti-death penalty groups to bring awareness about the racism in our death penalty system...
Midnight Friday Deadline to Help Texas Anti-Death Penalty Groups Win $3,000; Vote for Us Today!
Posted on May 08, 2009The deadline to vote for Texas anti-death penalty groups in the Jenzabar Social Media Leadership Award contest for $3,000 is Friday, May 8, at midnight.They will announce the finalists on May 11 and the winner on May 13. We are doing great, especially considering our entry is made up of all-volunteer groups that are able to accomplish a lot with very little funding...
HB 2267 (Law of Parties bill) Voted out of Calendars for Vote on House Floor May 8
Posted on May 07, 2009I just talked to Terri Hodge's office at 11:15 PM tonight and found out that HB 2267 (the Law of Parties bill) passed Calendars today and was placed on the General State Calendar for May 8, which means it could be voted on this Friday on the floor of the House...
Colorado Senate Votes to Defeat the Abolition Bill
Posted on May 06, 2009The Colorado Senate has voted 18-17 to defeat a measure that would have repealed the death penalty and use the savings from its elimination to fund cold case investigations.Four Democrats sided with Republicans Wednesday to shoot down the measure. The bill had faced tough opposition since it was introduced...
Protest the 200th Execution Under Texas Governor Rick Perry
Posted on May 05, 2009On June 2, 2009, the 200th execution under Texas Governor Rick Perry is scheduled to take place. Since he became governor of Texas in December 2000, Perry has allowed more executions to proceed than any other governor in U.S. history. The date of the 200th execution could change if any scheduled executions are successfully stopped...
Op-Ed by State Rep Lon Burnam: Approve resolution calling for impeachment of Keller
Posted on May 04, 2009Approve resolution calling for impeachment of KellerBy STATE REP. LON BURNAMMay 1, 2009By far, the most profound of powers vested in Texas government is the prerogative to take a human life. The decision to execute an inmate demonstrates the state?s full and ultimate authority...
Judge Rules in Favor of Charles Dean Hood
Posted on May 04, 2009District Court Judge Greg Brewer has ruled that death-row inmate Charles Dean Hood received an unfair trial due to the fact that the prosecutor of the case had a sexual relationship with the judge. Here is what CBS' Andrew Cohen had to say about the case...
Colorado May End Death Penalty to Focus on Cold Cases
Posted on May 03, 2009I don't know how many of you are following the death penalty abolition in Colorado, but this Washington Post article is worth a read. Like many of the state's considering abolition, CO is mainly talking about cost. The interesting thing about this one is that the bill would use the money saved after abolition to investigate cold cases...
Sharon Keller Questions
Posted on May 01, 2009Chuck Lindell of the Austin American-Statesman has answered a few common questions regarding Judge Sharon Keller. Why didn?t Keller send the request for more time to Judge Johnson? After all, Johnson was the duty judge assigned to handle Richard?s case...
Video of Execution Vigil in Austin for 198th Execution Under Rick Perry
Posted on May 01, 2009Derrick Johnson was executed April 30, 2009 in Texas. He was the 198th person executed under current Texas Governor Rick Perry. He was the 437th person executed in Texas since 1982. The 200th execution under Perry is currently scheduled for June 2.Watch video on YouTube of Vigil...
Statesman: Compensation for unjust convictions in Texas
Posted on April 30, 2009The following is the Austin American-Statesman's editorial in support of the Timothy Cole Act, which passed the House last week and is waiting for the Senate's vote.Compensation for unjust convictions in TexasTimothy Cole Act would honor signature victim of wrongful conviction who diedin prison...
Daily Texan: Support Keller impeachment
Posted on April 29, 2009Support Keller impeachmentSharon Keller denied Michael Richard?s constitutional rights when she closed her courtroom at 5 p.m. and refused to accept his last-minute appeal (?Representative initiates efforts for impeachment of Sharon Keller,? April 28)...
Report Fom Our Second Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty This Year
Posted on April 29, 2009Yesterday, we were at the Texas capitol from 9:30 to 1 AM meeting with legislators about HB 2267 to end the death penalty under the Law of Parties, talking to the media and testifying at the hearing on the Sharon Keller impeachment resolution.We spoke with members of the Calendars Committee about the Law of Parties and were encouraged by what we heard from a couple of offices...
Legislative testimony by TCRP board member and TCRP director regarding the proposed impeachment of Judge Sharon Keller:
Posted on April 28, 2009A Letter to the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil JurisprudenceTexas LegislatureRe: HR 480 (impeaching Judge Sharon Keller)Honorable Chair and Committee Members:As Director of a statewide civil rights nonprofit organization, I respectfullyurge passage of HR-480 so that the House of Representatives may begin theprocess of considering the impeachment of Judge Sharon Keller for abuse of heroffice, one of the most important judicial positions in the state...
Live Blogginng From Texas Capitol
Posted on April 27, 2009The hearing on Lon Burnam's HR 480 has started. Click here to Watch a live streaming video of the Sharon Keller Impeachment HearingClick on Live Stream 4 to watch in the afternoon Texas Legislature WebsiteApril 27, 2009
Help Texas Anti-Death Penalty Groups Win $3,000 to Use Against the Death Penalty
Posted on April 25, 2009Several Texas anti-death penalty groups are jointly entered in the Jenzabar Social Media Leadership Award contest for $3,000. The winner is the entry that gets the most people to comment on their entry by April 30, so to "vote", you leave a comment. We have a good chance to win this and we deserve to win because we have all used social media tools very effectively to jointly mobilize against the Texas death penalty...
Statesman: New claims in Bastrop murder appeal
Posted on April 24, 2009Rodney Reed's lawyers have cited new allegations of sexual misconduct against Jimmy Fennel in their latest appeal. Austin American Statesman has more details about the case.Reed was convicted in the 1996 Bastrop County murder of Stacey Stites, who was Fennell's fiancée at the time...
'Killer' Keller Digs Herself Deeper
Posted on April 24, 2009This week's issue of the Austin Chronicle has the following on the Sharon Keller's case,Nearly two dozen legal ethicists have signed on to a declaration filed Tuesday with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct calling for the ouster of Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon "Killer" Keller...
Charles T. Terrell on Innocence
Posted on April 24, 2009The following is Charles T. Terrell's letter to the editors of the Dallas Morning News. Mr. Terrell is the former chairman of the board, for Texas Criminal Justice Department.I join you in thanking and congratulating state Sen. Royce West and Sen. Rodney Ellis for their leadership in helping innocent people who may have spent years in prison for crimes they did not commit, and for establishing an innocence commission to lessen the chances of an innocent person being sent to prison -- or worse, to death row...
In re: Troy Anthony Davis
Posted on April 22, 2009Hello all,All of you that know me, know that I am committed to the fight to abolish the death penalty. Even more than that though, I am committed to fighting for those that have endured grave injustices.Troy Anthony Davis is my friend and I believe without a shadow of a doubt in my heart and soul that he is innocent...
Letter from Ethicists to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct Calling for Sharon Keller's Removal
Posted on April 22, 2009Ethicists Call for Sharon Keller's Removal Ethicists Call for Sharon Keller's Removal Scott Cobb Filed April 20, 2009 with the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct by two dozen of the nation's leading judicial ethicists...
The Law of Parties Bill Approved by House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
Posted on April 22, 2009The Law of Parties bill today passed the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.HB 2267 in the Texas Legislature would prohibit the state from seeking the death penalty for people in Law of Parties cases, which is a law that allows non-killers to be sentenced to death for the actions of another person...
Abolition bill narrowly passes Colorado House
Posted on April 21, 2009The bill passed third reading and final passage on a vote of 33 yes - 32 no. HB 1274 goes to the Colorado Senate for consideration. The bill repeals the states death penalty and dedicates funding to solve cold cases. (PDF)
Death row lawyers get paid while messing up
Posted on April 20, 2009The following is Houston Chronicle's expose of Texas attorneys who continue to miss appeal dates, but still get rewarded with more cases. One wonders if judges select these attorneys from their list of the worst lawyers in town. This is probably the easiest way to get rid of the backlog of cases they have...
Protest the 200th Execution Under Texas Governor Rick Perry
Posted on April 20, 2009On June 2, 2009, the 200th execution under Texas Governor Rick Perry is scheduled to take place. Since he became governor of Texas in December 2000, Perry has signed more execution orders than any other governor in U.S. history. Terry Hankins is scheduled to be the 200th person executed under Rick Perry...
Gov. Richardson, Activists Honored in Rome After New Mexico Repeals Death Penalty
Posted on April 20, 2009Democracy Now, April 20, 2009Mexico became the second state in the country to repeal the death penalty last month. After years of struggle by campaigners, the repeal was approved by the New Mexico Senate in February and the House in March. Governor Richardson and the state?s leading campaigners were honored at a ceremony at the Colosseum in Rome last week and met with the Pope...
UT Austin Rally Against the Death Penalty
Posted on April 19, 2009The following are some of the videos from the West Mall rally against the death penalty at the University of Texas at Austin. The rally was sponsored by UT Chapter of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty and Amnesty International.
Hearing Set for Sharon Keller Impeachment Resolution
Posted on April 19, 2009We have heard that the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence will hold a public hearing on the proposal to impeach Judge Sharon Keller on Monday, April 27.This resolution, HR 480 by Lon Burnam, would create a select committee in the House to investigate further whether Sharon Keller should be impeached for her refusal to accept an appeal 20 minutes after 5 PM for a person on the day of his execution...
Troy Davis loses appeal by 2-1 vote
Posted on April 16, 2009Daily ReportA federal appeals court late Thursday afternoon ruled against Troy Anthony Davis, whose claims of innocence have delayed his execution for killing a Savannah police officer in 1989. Judges Joel F. Dubina and Stanley Marcuswrote that Davis failed to meet the proceduralrequirements for filing a second habeas petition in federal court...
Live From Death Row Tonight
Posted on April 15, 2009LIVE CALL IN FROM JOHN BOOTH-EL ? MARYLAND DEATH ROW PRISONER,AND FROM TIMOTHY MCKINNEY - TENNESSEE DEATH ROW PRISONER.UT Austin in UTC Room 3.122 at 7 pm. (On 21st just west of Speedway.)And featuring:Sandra Reed ? Mother of Texas death row prisoner Rodney ReedKenneth Foster, Sr...
Kinky Friedman for Governor?
Posted on April 14, 2009Kinky Friedman announced that he is running for the Democratic nomination for governor of Texas in the 2010 primary election. One of the main issues in his campaign platform is the abolition of the death penalty. In 2005, while running for the governor of Texas as an independent candidate, he was approached by a group of TSADP members at a Border's bookstore in San Antonio asking him about his support of the death penalty...
City of Georgetown settles Jimmy Fennell civil case
Posted on April 13, 2009Catie Beck of the News8Austin reports:The City of Georgetown last week settled the last pending case against former Georgetown police officer Jimmy Lewis Fennell Jr. Fennell was sentenced to 10 years for charges that he sexually assaulted a woman in police custody...
UT Law: Imprisoned by the Past ; The Enduring Role of Race in the American Death Penalty
Posted on April 12, 2009Capital Punishment Center Presents: Imprisoned by the Past ; The Enduring Role of Race in the American Death Penalty Eidman Courtroom, UT Law School April 16, 2009 10:15 to 5:15 p.m. Symposium Program 10:15 Welcoming Remarks 10:30?12:00 Panel I - Race Discrimination in Capital Jury Selection Melynda Price, Visiting Scholar, Capital Punishment Center, University of Texas School of Law; Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky College of Law Joseph E...
Live From Death Row - UT Austin
Posted on April 12, 2009AUSTIN TEXAS, APRIL 15, 2009 RALLY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY AT UT! 12 NOON ON THE WEST MALL! AND IN THE EVENING... At UT Austin in UTC Rm. 3.122 at 7 pm. (On 21st just west of Speedway.) LIVE CALL IN FROM JOHN BOOTH-EL ? MARYLAND DEATH ROW PRISONER, AND FROM TIMOTHY MCKINNEY - TENNESSEE DEATH ROW PRISONER...
Message from Hank Skinner, April 01, 2009
Posted on April 07, 2009Hey y?all, I?m not sure whether this would be an actual New Hell Hole News or not. Mainly it?s just a reply to y?all?s comment on my New Hell Hole News #8 and 9. I was rather shocked and appalled by some of the things y?all have said. Let me set a few things straight...
GOP Chairman Call for Abolition
Posted on April 01, 2009Washington, DC ? Embattled Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele lashed out at GOP infighting Tuesday and urged the party faithful - some of whom have criticized his erratic statements - to be more like him: "unconventional, unpredictable ? to do from time to time the unexpected...
Burnam Seeking a Hearing on Impeachment of Keller: Call Chair Todd Hunter to Urge Him to Hold a Hearing
Posted on March 31, 2009Please call the Chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence, Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, and urge him to hold a hearing on Lon Burnam's resolution (HR 480) to create a committee to determine if Sharon Keller should be impeached...
New Complaints Filed Against Judge Sharon Keller
Posted on March 31, 2009The Associated Press is reporting that new complaints has been filed against Judge Sharon Keller. Texans for Public Justice filed complaints with the Texas Ethics Commission and Travis County attorney's office. She will be automatically suspended if the Travis County Attorney charges her with a crime, or if she is impeached by the Texas House...
The Onion: DNA Evidence Frees Black Man
Posted on March 31, 2009DNA Evidence Frees Black Man Convicted Of Bear Attack
Dutton's Moratorium Bill on agenda for Committee Hearing next Thursday, April 2
Posted on March 30, 2009Rep Dutton's moratorium bill (HB 913) is on the agenda for next Thursday, April 2, in the Subcommittee on Capital Punishment. We need to make an effort for this bill. If at all possible, people should try to drop to the hearing and sign a form in favor of this bill, which would actually stop executions for two years and create a death penalty study commission...
Kids Against the Death Penalty Named 2009 Youth Abolitionists of the Year
Posted on March 29, 2009Kids Against the Death Penalty has won the 2009 Youth Abolitionists of the Year award given by Students Against the Death Penalty and Texas Students Against the Death Penalty. The award was announced and presented to KADP at the Texas Capitol on March 24 by Hooman Hedayati, president of Students Against the Death Penalty and Jason Kyriakides, board member of Texas Students Against the Death Penalty...
New Hampshire House Passes Crime Victims Equality Act
Posted on March 27, 2009Today the NH House became the first legislative body in the country pass a crime victims equality act to prohibit discrimination against family members of murder victims who oppose the death penalty. By a 213-114 margin HB 370, "An act relative to the treatment of victims of crime", was passed by a 213-114 margin...
Text of Sharon "Killer" Keller's Response to Charges of Misconduct and Incompetence
Posted on March 27, 2009Scott Cobb has uploaded the text of Sharon "Killer" Keller's response to Charges of Misconduct and Incompetence online.Judge Keller Answer
Rick Casey: Let?s give Judge Keller a free lawyer
Posted on March 27, 2009The following is a great column by Rick Casey of the Houston Chronicle about Sharon Keller's request for the State of Texas to pay her legal fees.Sharon Keller, presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, says the State of Texas is violating her constitutional rights...
Repeal Bill Passes NH House
Posted on March 26, 2009The New Hampshire House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the death penalty today. The vote was 193-174. The House also passed a bill to establish a death penalty study commission.
Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty at the Texas Capitol
Posted on March 23, 2009Tuesday March 24, 2009Texas State Capitol11th and CongressAustin, Texas Register for Lobby Day! People from across Texas are coming to Austin on Tuesday, March 24, for a Death Penalty Reform Lobby Day to speak with legislators about the injustice of the Texas death penalty system...
US Senator Russ Feingold reintroduces bill to abolish federal death penalty
Posted on March 23, 2009More on S.650 is here:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:1:./temp/~bdD2dj:@@@L&summ2=m&|/bss/d111query.html|The text of S.650 will be at:http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.650:- - - - -http://feingold.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=310109Thursday, March 19, 2009FEINGOLD REINTRODUCES BILL TO ABOLISH FEDERAL DEATH PENALTYFeingold's Longtime Effort Comes as New Mexico Repeals Death PenaltyWashington, D...
Jeff Wood loses federal appeal
Posted on March 23, 2009Jeff Wood has lost a recent federal appeal. The ruling is online. There are two bills pending in the Texas Legislature that would prevent prosectors from seeking the death penalty for people who do not kill but are convicted under the Law of Parties. Michael Graczyk of Austin American Statesman reports:A Texas death row inmate who came within hours of being executed last summer has lost an appeal in federal court, where his lawyers argued that he is too mentally ill to be put to death...
Texas Can Help End the Death Penalty
Posted on March 23, 2009Hello,I'm writing to you today because of an issue that is very important to me, and may be to you as well. I learned this morning that Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis) will be introducing a bill in the Senate subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights to abolish the death penalty in the United States ...
Live blogging the New Mexico Death Penalty Bill
Posted on March 13, 2009The Santa Fe Reporter will be live blogging when the repeal of the death penalty bill hits the New Mexico Senate floor tomorrow. They've got everything set up there, where you can participate in the discussion and listen to the live feed.
New Mexico's death penalty repeal bill passed their Senate by a vote of 24 to 18!
Posted on March 13, 2009The bill has only one more step to become law! It now goes on to Gov. Bill Richardson, who we hope will sign it. We'll inform you as soon as we know if Governor Richardson signs and we have one more state without the death penalty! The New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty has supported this bill with a common-sense and compassionate combination of concern for victims' families and fiscal responsibility:Qoute by Equal Justice USA
New Hell Hole News#8, FEBRUARY 13, 2009
Posted on March 11, 2009Note: The following are taken from the diaries of death-row inmate Hank Skinner and do not represent views of the Texas Death Penalty blog or SADP. We have posted them because of several requests from our readers about the daily life on death-row.Welcome to yet another edition of the damnedest stuff you ought not have to be reading except for the idiots who keep on forcing me to write it...
Second Sharon Keller Incident Reported to Commission on Judicial Conduct
Posted on March 11, 2009According to the Dallas Morning News, Judge Sharon Keller might have been involved in another misconduct, this time over the case of Larry Swearingen who has a strong claims of innocence.By STEVE McGONIGLE / The Dallas Morning NewsJust weeks before the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals was charged with "willful and persistent conduct" that discredited the judiciary, she was involved in a second incident in which lawyers for a condemned man were initially blocked from filing a last-minute appeal...
Screening of After Innocence - UT Austin
Posted on March 11, 2009Friday March 13, NoonAfter InnocenceThe Social Work Council presents the film After Innocence. With the emergence of DNA evidence, the justice system is seeing a wave of reversed criminal convictions. But what happens to those who are set free, sometimes decades after being imprisoned for a crime they didn't commit? Jessica Sanders takes a close look at some of these people in this gripping documentary that's both a harsh criticism of the current judicial system and a touching look at those profoundly affected by it...
Pastor: Stop executions
Posted on March 10, 2009In offering Monday's prayer in the House, the Rev. Michael Piazza of Dallas used the podium to back a moratorium on the death penalty. Just briefly.Before starting his prayer, Piazza, pastor of the Cathedral of Hope church, noted that more than 1,000 members of his congregation had signed a petition seeking a moratorium and asked lawmakers to consider such a move...
The Procession for the Future visits Austin
Posted on March 09, 2009Austin Schedule:The Procession for the Future visits AustinMarch 12-14Saturday?s parade starts at NOON and terminatesat Capital with music & speakers from 2-4 pmThursday, March 12Arts for Social Change Workshop 7-9 pm at Parlin Hall 201Drumming for Demonstrations Workshop 9-10 pm (PAR 201)Friday, March 13Creative Tactics Training 3-5 pm at Calhoun Hall 100Creative Tactics, Drumming for Demonstrations, and DIY Silk ScreaningWorkshops, 6-9 pm at Rhizome Collective at 300 Allen St...
Capital Punishment: An Indictment by a Death-Row Survivor
Posted on March 06, 2009Arcade Publishing has published a book titled Capital Punishment: An Indictment by a Death-Row Survivor by Billy Wayne Sinclair and Jodie Sinclair, with a foreword by Sister Helen Prejean, who calls the book ?a searing condemnation and a powerful guide to the futility and arrogance of the death penalty carried out in the name of justice...
Yogurt Shop Hearing Postponed, Again!
Posted on February 26, 2009With so many postponed hearings, it looks like that there will not be a new trial anytime soon. Steven Kreytak of the Austin American-Statesman reports: State District Judge Mike Lynch scheduled the hearing last month after lawyers for Robert Springsteen IV asked him to reduce Springsteen?s bail because of recently discovered DNA evidence that defense lawyers say exonerates the men...
TDPAM Reports on the Willie Pondexter Press Conference
Posted on February 26, 2009Dear Friends, The Abolition Movement had a surprisingly successful press conference today for Willie Pondexter. If you're in Houston, check out channels 11(CBS), 39 (CW), and 47 (Telemundo). Also the Houston Chronicle came. KTRH 740 AM (Clear Channel) just called and did an interview and said it would air Friday morning...
Press Conference on Willie Pondexter, Scheduled to be Executed on March 3
Posted on February 25, 2009February 25,Contacts: Gloria Rubac 713-503-2633 Njeri Shakur 713-237-0713Press Conference on Willie Pondexter, Scheduled to be Executed on March 3;Why Pondexter Deserves Clemency, Why Texas Should Halt This ExecutionFriends and advocates of Willie Pondexter will hold a press conference at 11:00 AM at S...
Advocates to Hold Press Conference Tuesday, Feb 24, on Ending Death Penalty Sentences Under Texas' Law of Parties
Posted on February 23, 2009Media Advisory For immediate release: February 22, 2009Advocates to Hold Press Conference Tuesday, Feb 24, on Ending Death Penalty Sentences Under Texas' Law of Parties A press conference will be held at the Texas Capitol in the House Speaker's Committee Room (2W...
The American Justice System: Perpetuating Racial Injustice in a Time of Change
Posted on February 23, 2009In 2009, the US saw it's first Black president move into a White House built by slaves. Obama's victory is a massive blow to racism and should be celebrated. But at the same time, questions must be asked about the institutional racism still entrenched in our society and perfectly exemplified in the justice system...
Weekend Editorials on Sharon Keller
Posted on February 23, 2009The Austin American-Statesman's editorial says that Sharon Keller should not resign and should stand trial, because "at trial, the sordid events of Sept. 25 would be aired before Texas and the world. Keller's cold-blooded and process-centered approach to justice would be on vivid display...
Notice of Formal Proceedings Against Sharon Keller
Posted on February 20, 2009In 2007 Texas Moratorium Network was one of several groups that filed a judicial complaint against Sharon Keller. Our complaint was co-signed by almost 1900 people. In 2007, we also talked to several legislators who also subsequently signed on to a complaint or filed their own complaints against Keller: Reps Dutton, Olivo, Coleman, Farrar and Burnam...
Texas judge faces public hearing for conduct over 2007 death-penalty appeal
Posted on February 20, 2009That's Diane Jennings latest article at the Dallas Morning News. You can read the notice of formal proceedings here. The top judge of Texas' highest criminal court was told Thursday that she'll have to publicly defend her 2007 decision to close the court at 5 p...
New York Times Editorial: Investigating Judge Keller
Posted on February 19, 2009February 19, 2009New York TimesEDITORIALInvestigating Judge KellerSharon Keller, a Texas appellate court judge, made headlines in 2007 when she was reported to have ordered the court clerk?s office to close promptly at 5 p.m., preventing a death-row inmate from filing an emergency appeal...
Press Release: Lawmaker Seeks Impeachment of State Judge
Posted on February 17, 2009For Immediate Release Lawmaker Seeks Impeachment of State Judge (Austin, TX) ? A Fort Worth area Rep. Lon Burnam filed a resolution to begin the impeachment process against Judge Sharron Keller, the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals...
Text of the Sharon Keller Impeachment Resolution
Posted on February 16, 200981R8266 JSA-F By: Burnam H.R. No. 480 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Texas Legislature has exclusive power to present articles of impeachment against a state officer under Section 1, Article XV, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 665, Government Code; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature adopt the following procedures to consider the impeachment of Judge Sharon Keller, Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, for gross neglect of duty and conducting her official duties with willful disregard for human life: SECTION 1...
Rep. Lon Burnam Files Sharon Keller Impeachment Resolution
Posted on February 16, 2009Rep. Lon Burnam has filed a resolution calling for the impeachment of Judge Sharon Keller who closed the court house at 5 PM and refused to accept a later appeal from lawyers of Michael Richard who was executed in the same night. Associated Press reports: The resolution filed Monday by Rep...
Montana Senate votes to repeal the death penalty
Posted on February 16, 2009This afternoon Montana Senate passed a bill to repeal the death penalty by a vote of 27-23.Congratulations to the Montana Abolition Coalition. Senate Bill 236 replaces Montana's death penalty with a sentence of life without parole. The bill will have a vote on third reading and final passage in the coming days...
House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
Posted on February 13, 2009The following are this session's House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee members, which includes 8 Democrats (including the chairman) and 3 Republicans.Chair Pete Gallego - D (Voted yes for a moratorium in 2001)Vice Chair Wayne Christian - RRobert Miklos - DJoseph Moody - DPaula Pierson - DAllen Fletcher - RTerri Hodge - DCarol Kent - DDebbie Riddle - RAllen Vaught - DHubert Vo - D
St. Valentine: I Wish I'd Spent Valentine's Day Eating A Prix Fixe Dinner, But I Was Too Busy Getting Beheaded
Posted on February 13, 2009By St. Valentine February 10, 2009 | Issue 45?07 Is it Valentine's Day already? My word! How the time does fly. I might have missed the day entirely had I not caught a glimpse of all the young couples walking hand in hand this evening, filling the tables of every fancy French restaurant in town...
Quotes From New Mexico Repeal Members
Posted on February 12, 2009Viki Elkey, Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty has compiled these quotes from yesterday's debate:This evening, HB 285 to abolish the death penalty in New Mexico and replace it with life without parole passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 40-28...
New Mexico House Votes to Abolish the Death Penalty
Posted on February 12, 2009The following is Abe Bonowitz's report on the New Mexico abolition vote.The NM Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty's Lobby Day was Monday (Feb. 9) at the Roundhouse (NM's Capitol Building). More than 225 people from around the state came to Santa Fe for a press conference at noon, followed by visits with their Legislators...
Gov. Ted Strickland Granted Clemency to Jeff Hill
Posted on February 12, 2009Ohio governor. Ted Strickland granted clemency to Jeff Hill this afternoon. The press release and statement by the Governor's Office is posted below. Statement Regarding Clemency Application of Jeffrey D. Hill Columbus , Ohio ? Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement regarding the pending clemency application of Jeffrey D...
Live Blogging: New Mexico House Debate
Posted on February 11, 2009The New Mexico House of Representatives should be debating the death penalty within the next hour or so. Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Bernalillo, introduced HB 285 this session to abolish the death penalty. It?s ninth on the calendar for today?s floor session, currently in progress...
Timothy Cole Exonerated of 1985 Rape
Posted on February 09, 2009Last week Judge Charlie Baird exonerated Timothy Cole of the 1985 Lubbock rape that sent him to prison. But sadly he was not present during the court hearing to celebrate his exoneration. Because he died in prison 10 years ago. This is the first posthumous exoneration in Texas...
The Eye & Tooth Project
Posted on February 08, 2009With support from Amnesty International--Houston / Local Group #23 And performance space offered by Rude Mechs and The Off Center How can citizens lobby more effectively for abolition of the death penalty in Texas? How can we hone our ability to dialogue with multiple audiences on the injustice of capital punishment, particularly when others disagree with us? The Eye & Tooth Project is a Forum Theatre project that invites participants to explore the questions above- and other questions that arise in the process of working toward abolition...
Register for Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty
Posted on February 04, 2009Tuesday March 24, 2009Texas State Capitol11th and CongressAustin, TexasFill out the form to register for Lobby Day!Every Texas legislative session since 2003, the anti-death penalty community in Texas has rallied at the Texas capitol to lobby legislators to end the death penalty...
About to be killed by the state of Georgia
Posted on February 04, 2009Indie rock group State Radio has joined forces with Amnesty International to produce a short, hard-hitting animated Web video about the plight of death row inmate Troy Davis. Davis has been on death row for 18 years and has received three stays of execution, twice coming within 24 hours of his death, despite a strong claim of innocence that has never been heard in a court of law...
Execution Watch: Live coverage of David Martinez's Execution
Posted on February 02, 2009?Shining a Spotlight on Texas?s Badge of Shame Through Live Coverage of Executions.? EXECUTION WATCHFeb. 4, 2009, 6:00?7:00 p.m. Central TimeKPFT 90.1 FM, HD-2, HoustonINTERNET: At 6 p.m. CT go to www.executionwatch.org, click on ?Listen?*** If the execution is canceled, we?ll cancel the show...
SADP seeks nominations for the Youth Abolitionist of the Year Award
Posted on February 01, 2009Students Against the Death Penalty is accepting nominations for the 2009 Youth Abolitionist of the Year Award. The Award is presented each year to a young person (or persons under the age of 25) with a deep commitment to fighting the death penalty and a proven ability to transform this commitment into effective action...
Dr. Glenn Larkin on Larry Swearingen
Posted on January 29, 2009The following is a short addendum sent to me by Dr. Glenn Larkin, one of the pathologists quoted in the Larry Swearingen article I post a few days ago. A short addendum to this article:--- Larry Swearingen Even the circumstantial evidence is raunchy, as well as some of the physical evidence...
Kerry Cook and the SMU screening of "The Exonerated"
Posted on January 29, 2009On Friday night a film screening of "The Exonerated" will precede a question and answer session from a man on which one of the movie's characters was based: Kerry Max Cook, an innocent man convicted of capital murder in 1977. After spending 22 years on death row, DNA testing exonerated him from the crime...
Statesman: U.S. Court stops execution that Texas courts wouldn't
Posted on January 27, 2009The Austin American-Statesman has a great editorial today about the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Gov. Rick Perry's failure and carelessness to prevent execution of a possibly innocent death-row inmate.Once again, a federal court has had to intervene to prevent Texas from executing a death row inmate whose conviction is in doubt...
Death Penalty Clinic at Berkeley Law
Posted on January 27, 2009The Death Penalty Clinic opened its doors in August 2001. The clinic's mission is to offer a program that helps students develop outstanding legal skills and to serve clients facing capital punishment. These complex cases teach students about law, courts, and the justice system, and prepare them to enter the profession with a commitment to fundamental rights...
Chicago Tribune: Texas hires arson expert to study fatal 1991 fire for which Cameron Todd Willingham was executed
Posted on January 26, 2009Steve Mills of the Chicago Tribune is reporting that the state of Texas is hiring a Maryland arson expert to examine the evidence in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham.In 2004, four fire experts told the Chicago Tribune that the fire that had sent Cameron Todd Willingham to Death Row and later to his execution in Texas might have been an accident rather than a crime...
Four pathologists back Swearengen's innocence claim
Posted on January 26, 2009Chuck Lindel of Austin American-Statesman is reporting that four pathologists, including one who helped to send Swearingen to death-row, now believe that he was innocent of the 1998 murder. By Chuck LindellAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Saturday, January 24, 2009 Four forensic pathologists agree that Larry Swearingen, set to be executed Tuesday, could not have committed the 1998 murder that sent him to death row...
Larry Swearingen gets a stay of execution
Posted on January 26, 2009I was just informed that a federal appeals court has granted a last minute stay of execution to Larry Swearingen.
Houston Chronicle: Room for doubt
Posted on January 24, 2009Houston Chronicle's editorial board supports a stay of execution for Larry Swearingen pending reconsideration of evidence.Larry Ray Swearingen has lived on Texas death row for eight years, convicted of the rape-murder of a Montgomery County coed in 1998...
Texas Monthly: The Science of Murder
Posted on January 24, 2009Someone killed Melissa Trotter and dumped her body in the Sam Houston National Forest. But according to six forensic experts, that someone was not Larry Swearingen. Michael Hall of Texas Monthly reports:Innocent men in prison often have two things in common...
MARCH AND RALLY FOR YOGURT SHOP DEFENDANTS!
Posted on January 22, 2009Another round of DNA testing and... THE DNA EXONERATES ROB SPRINGSTEEN AND MICHAEL SCOTT! It?s Time for Travis County to Drop the charges in the Yogurt Shop Case! Saturday, January 24 3 pm ? Meet at D.A.'s office, 11th and Lavaca March to City Hall 3:45 - Rally at City Hall, 1st and Lavaca...
2 Days Left to Join In Time to Help Us Help Some Death Row Families
Posted on January 21, 2009With just five minutes of your time, you can help us win a contest that would allow us to help some families of people on death row, as well as fight the death penalty.Please help, so we can help some families of people on death row.http://www.amazee...
Campus Progress Southern Regional Conference
Posted on January 21, 2009Atlanta, Georgia Friday, February 6, 2009 - Sunday, February 8, 2009 Campus Progress is hosting our first ever Southern Regional Conference at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia from February 6-8, 2009! In addition to our summer national conference held each year in Washington, DC, we are adding an annual regional conference for both journalists and activists...
Execution Watch Jan 22 - Frank Moore
Posted on January 21, 2009Wednesday's show on the execution in Huntsville, Texas, of Frank Moore is still scheduled. The next day, Thursday, we will cover the second execution in as many days, that of REGINALD PERKINS. Details below. Spread the word.*** *** *** *** ***?Shining a Spotlight on Texas?s Badge of Shame Through Live Coverage of Executions...
World Court Says US Defied Order in Death Row Case
Posted on January 19, 2009Associated Press is reporting that the International Court of Justice has ruled that the United States defied it's order last year, when Texas executed Jose Medellin, a Mexican national.The U.N.'s highest court said the U.S. is still obliged to review the cases of about 50 other Mexicans on death row because they were denied access to their consulate after they were arrested, as required by an international treaty...
Letter to Board of Pardons and Paroles regarding Frank Moore
Posted on January 18, 2009Below is a letter sent to us by Frank Moore's wife, Danielle. She asks that interested people copy it, make your own modifications to express your own ideas in your own words and mail it or fax your letter to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.Rissie OwensPresiding Officer, Board of Pardons and ParolesExecutive Clemency Section8610 Shoal Creek BoulevardAustin, TX 78757USARe: Frank Moore (TDCJ # 999210)January 13, 2009VIA FAX: 512/467-0945Dear Rissie Owens, Board Presiding Officer, and other Board Members:I am requesting by this letter that you commute Frank Moore?s death sentence and recommend either clemency or a new trial...
Re: Texas death row inmate pulls out eye, eats it
Posted on January 16, 2009The following is the letter to the editor by Stefanie Collins of Austin CEDP about Andre Thomas, the death row inmate who recently pulled out his remaining eye.I have corresponded with Andre Thomas, the young man on Texas? death row who recently tore out his remaining eye, for over a year...
CCA denies another appeal by Rodney Reed
Posted on January 15, 2009Chuck Lindell of Austin-American Statesman is reporting that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has denied a request for new trial by Rodney Reed.The state?s highest criminal court today refused to grant a new trial to Rodney Reed, sentenced to death a decade ago in the Bastrop County murder and sexual assault of Stacey Stites, 19...
When local governments have to pay for wrongful convictions
Posted on January 12, 2009Scott Cobb of TMN mentions the 2003 case where the Austin City Council settled lawsuits for more than 14 million dollars in the cases of two men wrongfully convicted of murder. According to Cobb,If Texas city councils do not start considering the broken death penalty system a matter for local governments, then more and more local taxpayers in Texas will have to foot the bill for these type of lawsuits...
AP: Death row inmate pulls out eye, eats it
Posted on January 09, 2009Associated Press is reporting that Andre Thomas, a Texas death row inmate pulled out his only good eye and told officers he ate it. He had already pulled out his other eye in 2004 while awaiting trial in Sherman. He was ruled competent to stand trial...
Another round of DNA testing and...THE DNA EXONERATES ROB SPRINGSTEEN AND MICHAEL SCOTT!
Posted on January 05, 2009Drop the charges in the Yogurt Shop Case! Come to a Support Action and attend the Hearing! Wednesday, January 7 at 1:00 pm Travis County Courthouse Plaza, off Lavaca between 10th and 11th. Things are heating up in the Yogurt Shop case! As many of you may know, long time CEDP member Jeannine Scott is fighting for her husband Michael Scott, who was wrongfully imprisoned for murder in this case...
New DNA results do not match Yogurt Shop murder suspects
Posted on December 31, 2008CBS 42 is reporting that according Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott's defense attorneys, the newly tested DNA evidence proves that someone else committed the 1991 murders at This is Not a Yogurt Shop store in Austin.Evidence taken from the 1991 crime scene where the four teenage girls were murdered was tested recently using a method not available during Springsteen and Scott's trial in 2001 and 2002...
Students Against the Death Penalty receives Grant Award
Posted on December 30, 2008Students Against the Death Penalty was just awarded a grant by Resist, Inc., a national progressive foundation located in Somerville, Massachusetts to help with organizing the 2009 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break in Durham, North Carolina...
DMN editorial: Death penalty moratorium needed
Posted on December 30, 2008That's the title of Dec 29 editorial by Dallas Morning News calling for a death penalty moratorium in Texas. Last year DMN changed it's century old support of the capital punishment and called for the abolition of the death penalty in Texas.The year draws to a close with Texas in its familiar No...
Seven Scheduled Executions in Texas in January
Posted on December 26, 2008Curtis Moore January 14TDCJ Info on Curtis MooreJose Garcia Briseno Jan 15TDCJ Info on Jose Garcia BrisenoFrank Moore Jan 21TDCJ Info on Frank MooreReginald Perkins Jan 22TDCJ Info on Reginald PerkinsClemency for Reginald W. Perkins Petition More than 16,500 have signed!Facebook GroupLarry Ray Swearingen Jan 27Larry Swearingen's website Another website with information and legal documentsTDCJ Info on Larry Ray SwearingenVirgil Martinez Jan 28TDCJ Info on Virgil MartinezOrtiz Ricardo Jan 29TDCJ Info on Ortiz RicardoTo send the Governor of Texas an email denouncing these executions, go to:http://governor...
Justice For Rodney Reed! Protest - Today
Posted on December 22, 2008span style="font-family:Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"span style="font-size: 12px;"Dear Friends,br /br /For anyone following the case of Rodney Reed, I?m sure you were as outraged as we were by the CCA?s complete disregard for any of the important evidence provided by the defense that could prove Rodney?s innocence in a new trial...
"A Great Injustice" in the Rodney Reed Case
Posted on December 19, 2008p style="text-align: center;"span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;"bCourt of Criminal Appeals Denies Relief /b/spanbr //pdiv style="text-align: center;" /divp style="text-align: center;"span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;"bReed?s Supporters Plan Protest for Monday, December 22, 2008...
Another Victory at the U.N.
Posted on December 19, 2008Community of Sant'Egidio ANOTHER VICTORY AT THE U.N. FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVEDA RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A UNIVERSAL MORATORIUMOF EXECUTIONS AND THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE WORLD The Community of Sant'Egidio gladly welcomes the big step taken by the United Nations when, just a short while ago, the General Assembly approved a new resolution calling for a Universal Moratorium of capital punishment...
Rodney Reed's request for new trial denied
Posted on December 17, 2008div id=":21" class="ArwC7c ckChnd" a href="http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/hillcountry/entries/2008/12/17/rodney_reeds_request_for_new_t.html#postcomment" target="_blank"Andrea Lorenz/a of the Austin American-Statesman is reporting that Rodney Reed's request for a new trial has been denied...
2008: Harris sends nobody to death row
Posted on December 15, 2008Thats the title of Rick Casey's column for the Houston Chronicle.First I learn that Houston's air is getting cleaner. Now I learn that we haven't sentenced a single scumbag murderer to death this entire year. This is not the city I signed up for. In 1999, Houston displaced Los Angeles as the smoggiest city in the nation...
Death penalty system fatally flawed
Posted on December 15, 2008Thats the title of Sam Milsap's column in the San Antonio Express-News.According to a report released last week by the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty ? Texas Death Penalty Developments in 2008: The Year in Review ? this year Texas juries condemned the fewest number of people to death in more than 30 years...
Ramsey Clark awarded UN Human Rights prize
Posted on December 14, 2008Dear Friends,This is wonderful news about Ramsey Clark. This past summer when I contacted Ramsey about the Jeff Wood case, he did not hesitate when asked to write a letter to the governor and the Board of Pardons.Ramsey was the attorney for my friend Carlos Santana who was executed by the state of Texas in March of 1993...
Map of Executions in the U.S in 2008
Posted on December 11, 2008Texas performed 18 of 37 executions carried out in the U.S. in 2008. That was 48.6 percent. Ohio, which carried out two executions, was the only state outside the South to impose the death penalty in 2008. 95 percent of all 2008 executions were in the South...
Death penalty abolished in Togo
Posted on December 11, 2008The Togolese government has announced the abolition of death penalty, the state radio reported. The decision to scrap death penalty in the West African nation was announced at the end of the cabinet meeting held here Wednesday evening. "The choice by the country to set up a healthy judiciary limiting miscarriages of justice, correcting, educating and ensuring human rights is no longer consistent with the criminal law that still implements death penalty," a statement read on the state-owned radio said...
A Terrible Loss
Posted on December 09, 2008Dear Friends, There was a murder in Houston on Saturday night. It was the sister of death row activist and a founder of PURE, Harvery Tee Earvin. Also murdered was his sister's god child. His family will bury Savannah, as she was called, on this Saturday at 11am...
CONGRATULATIONS to Andrea Riccardi of Sant'Egidio
Posted on December 08, 2008All of us know how much San'Egidio has done for the abolition movement and so I was really happy to read that Andrea Riccardi will receive this award.The Karlspreis (or Charlemagne Award in English) is one of the most prestigious European Awards. The sponsors of the award promote that the Charlemagne Prize is not only an expression of gratitude for lasting services for the unity of Europe, but also an encouragement and an expression of hopes and expectations directed towards the future...
Photo of Greg Wright 15 Minutes After Execution
Posted on December 03, 2008This photo of Greg Wright 15 minutes after his execution on Oct 30, 2008 in Texas is from Bente Hjortshoj. She is standing on the left. She wrote this caption to the photo:"The first time we touched you Greg...you were still warm...you looked at peace...
Holiday Card Signing for Death Row on Tuesday!
Posted on December 01, 2008HOLIDAY CARD SIGNING FOR TEXAS DEATH ROW Tuesday, December 2, from 6-10:00 PM at S.H.A.P.E. Community Center, 3815 Live Oak at Alabama in Houston's Third Ward Join in some holiday cheer and help sign cards for the 370 women and men on death row in Texas, as well as the juveniles taken off death row in 2005 and a few others like Thomas Miller-El, Martin Draughon, and Kenneth Foster...
DA Craig Watkins selected as Governing Magazine's Public Official of the Year
Posted on December 01, 2008Most district attorneys make a name for themselves by winning convictions. Craig Watkins has done it by reversing convictions that never should have happened. Every year since 1994, Governing has honored individual state and local government officials for outstanding accomplishment by naming them Public Officials of the Year...
State Rep Harold Dutton files Law of Parties bill
Posted on November 28, 2008State Rep Harold Dutton of Houston has filed a bill to end the death penalty as a sentencing option for anyone convicted under the Law of Parties. By: Dutton H.B. No. 304 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the extent of a defendant's criminal responsibility for the conduct of a co-conspirator in certain felony cases...
The UN just voted in favor of the resolution for a death penalty moratorium
Posted on November 20, 2008The resolution passed the UN vote a little while ago:105 in favor, 48 against and 31 abstentions.Last year it passed with 99 in favor, 52 against and 33 abstentions.
Dick Cheney, Alberto Gonzales indicted in S. Texas
Posted on November 19, 2008Thats title of Houston Chronicle's article on indictment of Dick Cheney, Alberto Gonzales and state Senator. Lucio on charges related to alleged abuse of prisoners in federal detention centers.McALLEN ? A South Texas grand jury has indicted Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on state charges related to the alleged abuse of prisoners in Willacy County's federal detention centers...
Star-Telegram interview with Dallas DA Craig Watkins
Posted on November 19, 2008Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins created a conviction integrity unit. He invited law students into his office to help probe for wrongful convictions. And there is at least one other way Watkins differs from most other prosecutors: He is personally opposed to capital punishment...
11th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted oral arguments to Troy Davis
Posted on November 19, 2008Julien Ball of CEDP has received words from Martina Correia, Troy Davis's sister, that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has granted oral arguments in Troy Davis's case and will hear them on December 9! This hearing will be open to the public. More to come...
HURRICANE SEASON: the hidden messages in water
Posted on November 18, 2008HURRICANE SEASON: the hidden messages in water is a two woman show about unnatural disaster and a great shift in universal consciousness. Read more about this inspiring show at the show's website: www.hurricaneseasontour.com.Texas Moratorium Network will participate in a dialogue at the Austin show...
Causewiring the Anti-Death Penalty Movement
Posted on November 17, 2008Anyone interested in using online activism against the death penalty should take a look at the new book, CauseWired: Plugging In, Getting Involved, Changing the World. It is about using online activism to change the world. The author, Tom Watson, also has a blog that is worth a look...
All the people scheduled for execution in Texas are either African-American (8) or Hispanic (5).
Posted on November 17, 2008Two weeks after the first African-American was elected President of the United States, two African-Americans are set to be executed in Texas this week. Last week, Texas also executed two African-Americans. The week before that Texas also executed an African-American...
Polunsky visitation with Jeff
Posted on November 17, 2008Terri Been is sister of death-row inmate Jeff Wood. In this letter she talks about her experience with visiting her brother on death-row and the situation during and after this month's lock-down.Yesterday?s visit to my brother was bitter sweet to say the least...
Panel recommends abolishing death penalty in Md.
Posted on November 12, 2008A state commission has voted to recommend abolishing the death penalty in Maryland.The Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment voted 13-7 to make the recommendation in its report to lawmakers and the governor next month.The vote came after the failure of a proposed amendment to keep the death penalty for people who kill correctional officers or police officers...
The lockdown ends on Wednesday
Posted on November 11, 2008Gloria Rubac of the The Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement informs us by email that visits will resume on Wednesday at Polunsky.From Gloria:The lockdown ends on Wednesday.Just called again to clarify and was told that visits start Wednesday. Of course, on Wednesday it is press day so visits are only in the morning, from 8-12 noon...
End the Polunsky Unit Lockdown Now!
Posted on November 09, 2008The Abolition Movement spent the majority of our meeting on November 5 discussing the current situation at the Polunsky Unit. The consensus was that anything and everything should be tried until this lockdown ends, visits are restored, shakedowns are ended and life returns to what TDCJ considers normal...
Cynthia McKinney: Witness to an Execution
Posted on November 02, 2008Last Thursday, while Ralph Nader, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin were debating in Cleveland, Cynthia McKinney was acting as witness to the execution of another innocent man in Texas - Gregory Wright, who was killed by Texas authorities at Huntsville Unit, Texas State Penitentiary, Jacksonville, Texas...
Complete video of Witness to Innocence's press conference at the Texas Capitol
Posted on November 01, 2008On Friday, 24 exonerated ex-death row prisoners from across the country held a news conference to call for the establishment of a statewide commission on wrongful convictions while a moratorium is imposed on executions in Texas. They spent a combined total of nearly 200 years on death row for crimes they did not commit...
Help Us Win a Membership Contest so that We Can Help Some Families of People on Death Row
Posted on November 01, 2008Click here to join the "Abolish the Death Penalty Project" on Amazee.com and help us win the membership contest. We could win up to $5,000 to use against the death penalty. The project with the most members by Jan 22 wins. We plan to use one-half of any prize money we win to help needy families of people on death row travel to visit their loved ones on death row...
Witness to Innocence's press conference at the Texas Capitol
Posted on October 30, 2008Witness to Innocence's Friday news conference should be available for viewing at:http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php It will be the Live Stream from the Speaker's Committee Room. The news conference is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time...
Louisiana Court of Appeals Trashed 2,500 Habeas Patitions
Posted on October 28, 2008A 2007 suicide note by a clerk of the Louisiana Court of Appeals who killed himself at the courthouse revealed that 2500 prisoner petitions had been summarily rejected over a period of 13 years without having been read. According to a reporter, "Although every criminal writ application is supposed to be reviewed by three judges, he was deputed to winnow out any that had been filed pro se and arrange for their automatic rejection...
Carolyn LeCroy of The Message Project selected as CNN's Top 10 Hero
Posted on October 27, 2008One of the folks in the running to be dubbed "CNN Hero of the Year" is Carolyn LeCroy, an ex-prisoner who started a small non-profit called The Messages Project that helps prisoners and their children maintain and "repair" their relationships through video messages...
Press Advisory: The 9th Annual March to End Executions
Posted on October 25, 2008PRESS ADVISORY October 24, 2008 Contacts: Gloria Rubac 713-503-2633 Dan Sharber 713-560-7227 The 9th Annual March to End Executions to Focus on the Flaws of the Death Penalty in Texas; Exoneree Clarence Brandley to Speak along with Several Death Row Families Hundreds of death penalty opponents will gather in Houston on Saturday, October 25, for the 9th Annual March to End Executions...
All Visits in Texas Prisons Cancelled
Posted on October 22, 2008(Please disseminate to your respective group members)EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY - As a result of a system-wide lock-down, all visitation during the week of October 21-26, 2008 will be cancelled to allow units to conduct security searches.Please continue to check the TDCJ website or contact the TDCJ Ombudsman Coordinator's Office, 936-437-8035, for updates regarding visitation for the week of October 27-31, 2008...
Broken Radio Antenna at Polunsky Unit
Posted on October 20, 2008I'm sure some of you have had your guys complain about the broken antenna on the death row bldg. It's been about 3 months now that's it's been that way, and a lot of the guys are really upset about it. Some areas get perfect reception, most do not...
My trip to Texas Death Row
Posted on October 16, 2008By Christyn TrumanAs usual, my trips to Texas are always bittersweet. I knew this one would be hard because I was visiting death row for the first time. I played in my mind everything that I expected to happen, and everything I would feel. However, I was not ready for the actual flood of emotion that came over me upon seeing the sign of the Polunsky Unit...
Attorney general defends actions in investigation of affair between judge, DA
Posted on October 16, 2008Friends, It is interesting and strange, in my opinion, that the Texas Attorney General gives the perception that he cares about the Charles Hood case and the picture of total unfairness that it gives to justice in Texas. And never mind the fact that it is totally illegal for a judge and a DA to be having an affair while working on the same case...
Map of Executions in U.S. Since 1977
Posted on October 15, 2008There have been 1125 executions in the United States since 1977, but only 1122 are represented on this map. The other three executions were conducted by the federal government and not by a state.
Troy Davis - updated actions and execution warrant
Posted on October 15, 2008Hello all,An execution warrant has now been issued for Troy Davis - commencing on October 27. The exact date of his execution will be set shortly, but will likely the 27th (the warrant lasts for one week, and the date is generally set for the first day of the warrant period)...
Video of Interview with Alvin Kelly - Scheduled for Execution in Texas Tuesday Oct 14
Posted on October 13, 2008h/t to TMN Blog
Austin Chronicle: Keller Immune to Justice
Posted on October 13, 2008Thats the title of Austin Chronicle article on Sharon Keller.BY JORDAN SMITH According to federal district Judge Lee Yeakel's ruling last week, Court of Criminal Appeals presiding Judge Sharon Keller enjoys "judicial immunity," which insulates her from being sued for violating the civil rights of an executed inmate...
Families of victims and families of the executed gather to launch national project
Posted on October 05, 2008Washington, DC ? Murder Victims? Families for Human Rights (MVFHR) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) launched a national project opposing the death penalty for persons with severe mental illnesses at a press conference and remembrance ceremony in San Antonio, Texas on October 3...
Rev. Carroll Pickett: The evolution of a death penalty opponent
Posted on October 04, 2008For 15 years, the Rev. Carroll Pickett was a witness to state-sanctioned death. As a prison chaplain in Hunstville, he presided over 95 executions. After each one, Mr. Pickett recorded his thoughts on tape. The documentary At the Death House Door chronicles his anguish as he eventually concludes that some of the men he led to death were innocent...
TRIBUTE: Stanley Tookie Williams, 1953-2005.
Posted on October 01, 2008The organizing committee for the 9th Annual Texas March to End Executions will be showing the excellent documentary TRIBUTE: Stanley Tookie Williams, 1953-2005. The event will be a fundraiser for the march and there is a $5 suggested donation (though no one will be turned away for lack of funds)...
City of Georgetown Statement Concerning Jimmy Fennell Plea
Posted on September 26, 2008The following is Georgetown's response to the civil lawsuits filed yesterday by one of Jimmy Fennel's victims:The City of Georgetown is shocked and saddened by the events that occurred on October 26, 2007, involving former Sergeant Jimmy Fennell. While no profession is immune from unlawful or unethical conduct from its members, we recognize the badge of the police department as a symbol of public faith and trust and believe our officers should be exemplary in obeying the law as well as the regulations of the police department...
Fennell gets 10 years
Posted on September 26, 2008By Isadora Vail | Friday, September 26, 2008, 10:58 AM Former Georgetown Police Sgt. Jimmy Lewis Fennell Jr. showed little emotion this morning as state District Judge Burt Carnes sentenced him to 10 years behind bars...
Please Take Action to Save Larry Swearingen
Posted on September 25, 2008Dear fellow Abolitionists, we are struggling to save the life of death row prisoner Larry Swearingen in Texas who is scheduled for another hearing on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Conroe, Texas. This hearing is about Larry's motion to get biased Judge Fred Edwards recused off his case, and we need many supporters and abolitionists coming to support him and show the urgency in this matter by being present...
AUSTIN PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF TROY DAVIS THIS MONDAY
Posted on September 25, 2008Austin's chapter of the Campaign to END the Death Penalty is holding a protest Monday, September 29th in support of Georgia death-row inmate Troy Davis. Davis, who has a strong innocence claim, was granted a temporary stay by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, less than 2 hours before his scheduled execution...
AJC: Troy Davis may be innocent
Posted on September 24, 2008The following is Atlanta Journal-Constitution's editorial on Troy Davis' execution:Wednesday, September 24, 2008If Troy Anthony Davis had occupied a higher rung on the social ladder, he probably would not have been convicted of murder in the August 1989 shooting death of a Savannah police officer...
Troy Davis' execution stayed
Posted on September 23, 2008Here is the court order:ORDER LIST: 554 U.S.)TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2008ORDER IN PENDING CASE08-66 DAVIS, TROY A. V. GEORGIA(O8A241)The application for stay of execution of sentence of deathpresented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court isgranted pending the disposition of the petition for a writ ofcertiorari...
Protests planned against Davis? execution
Posted on September 23, 2008As Troy Anthony Davis waits to hear whether the U.S. Supreme Court will stay his execution Tuesday night, death-penalty opponents planned protests and vigils across the state.Davis, 39, sits on death row for the Aug. 19, 1989, killing of Officer Mark Allen MacPhail...
A Death Row visit with Troy A. Davis
Posted on September 22, 2008Sunday September 21, 2008By Patrick DyerToday I visited Troy Anthony Davis on Georgia's death row, a little over 48 hours before the state plans to put him to death for a crime he didn't commit. As I traveled the highway, through the red clay and green pine trees of Georgia this mild autumn Sunday morning listening to Bob Marley, I pondered what it might be like as an innocent man facing an execution in two days...
Bob Herbert: What?s the Rush?
Posted on September 20, 2008Bob Herbert, New York Times' Op-Ed columnist has published a great column about Troy Davis: Go to Columnist Page » Troy Davis, who was convicted of shooting a police officer to death in the parking lot of a Burger King in Savannah, Ga...
Jimmy Fennell Pleaded Guilty
Posted on September 20, 2008KXAN is reporting that Jimmy Fennell has pleaded guilty to "improper sexual activity and kidnapping" and his sentencing his set for Friday, Sept. 26th at 9 a.mGEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- Jimmy Fennell pleaded guilty and that is the verdict the judge handed down to the former Georgetown police officer...
Michael Blair's Exoneration Brings Innocence List Total to 130
Posted on September 18, 2008From Death Penalty Information Center:- - - - -ANOTHER INMATE EXONERATED FROM DEATH ROW AS DNA EVIDENCE LEADS TEXAS TO DROP CHARGESMichael Blair's Exoneration Brings Innocence List Total to 130WASHINGTON, DC - A Collin County court in Texas has dismissed capital murdercharges against Michael Blair who had been on death row for the 1993 murder ofAshley Estell...
Wait a minute! A stay of execution for convicted murderer Charles Hood raises troubling questions of judicial integrity
Posted on September 18, 2008Houston Chronicle has an editorial questioning Court of Criminal Appeal's decision to dismiss the credible evidence that an improper relationship existed between the judge and prosecutor trying Charles Hood's capital murder trial.Tuesday evening, 24 hours before he was due to be put to death by lethal injection, convicted murderer Charles Dean Hood was granted a stay of execution by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals...
Still no DNA match in yogurt shop case
Posted on September 18, 2008Thats title of Austin-American Statesman's article about pending retrial of Michael Springsteen for the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders.By Steven KreytakAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, September 18, 2008 Prosecutors in the cases against two men facing retrial in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders have yet to figure out whose DNA was discovered this year in swabs taken from one of the four teenage victims, according to lawyers in the case...
Kenneth Foster Anniversary Journal Entry for 8.30.08
Posted on September 17, 20088.30.08 Anniversary Journal EntryKenneth "Haramia" Foster, Jr.It dawned upon me that the one-year mark of my 2007 scheduled execution was approaching. The emotions of that day still have not resided and perhaps they never will, though I find myself getting stronger each day and my vision is getting clearer...
Martina Correia: "We are still fighting for Troy"
Posted on September 14, 2008This message is from Martina Correia (Troy's sister).I want everyone to know that we are still fighting for Troy, you have not heard from me in two days because I have been trying to answer so many calls and get rest in between. I went to see Troy yesterday and he is in good spirits, prayerful and saying "we can never give up...
Troy Davis Denied Clemency
Posted on September 12, 2008Georgia's Board of Pardons and Paroles has upheld the scheduled execution of Troy Davis on September 23rd. That's in spite of new evidence they heard today, which suggested that Davis was framed in the 1989 murder of a Savannah police officer, and that witnesses were coerced into implicating him.
National Day of Action to Save Troy Davis
Posted on September 11, 2008The State of Georgia has given Troy Davis, an innocent man, an execution date of September 23. Troy, who is African-American, was convicted of killing Mark McPhail, a white police officer. Seven of the nine witnesses against Troy Davishim have recanted their testimony, several saying they were coerced by police, and a number of other witnesses who were never allowed to testify fingered Sylvester "Red" Coles as the killer...
Latest news from TDCJ about Ike
Posted on September 11, 2008Texas Department of Criminal JusticeBrad LivingstonExecutive Direct TDCJ Evacuates Additional Prison Units in Preparation of Hurricane Ike Landfall Sept. 11, 2008 ? Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials began evacuations early Thursday of three TDCJ units located in areas likely to be affected by Hurricane Ike...
Why You Should Oppose the Death Penalty!
Posted on September 09, 2008The System is Broken:Why You Should Oppose the Death Penalty!The capital punishment system is plagued by wrongful convictions. Innocence, racism, lack of adequate defense, mental illness, and numerous crime lab scandals, have all helped to create a system rife with error...
Texas appeals court stop scheduled execution
Posted on September 09, 2008Associated Press is reporting that Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed tomorrow's scheduled execution of Charles Hood.A Texas death row inmate whose lawyers argued a secret romantic relationship between the judge and prosecutor at his trial tainted the proceedings 19 years ago won a reprieve Tuesday from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that blocked his lethal injection set for the following day...
Judge Holland's Shockingly High Recusal Rate Warrants Full Investigation into Alleged Affair with D.A.
Posted on September 08, 2008From Texas Defender Service:Judge Holland's Shockingly High Recusal Rate WarrantsFull Investigation into Alleged Affair with D.A.New Data Supports Charles Dean Hood's Claim that Judge and Prosecutor at His Trial were Romantically Involved(Austin, Texas) Attorneys for Charles Dean Hood filed an Application for Writof Habeas Corpus and Motion for Stay of Execution (attached) today in theCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas with new data indicating that his rights toan impartial judge and a fair trial were violated in his capital murder trial...
Kenneth Foster granted level G2 status and is in general population at the McConnell Unit
Posted on September 07, 2008Hello everyone ? For the last 12 years Kenneth Foster has been isolated in his cell for at least 22 hours per day either on death row in solitary confinement (11 years) or for the last 1 year housed in the most restrictive unit available at the McConnell Unit...
Media Advisory for Oct 3 Gathering in San Antonio of Victims' Families Opposed to Death Sentences for the Mentally Ill
Posted on September 06, 2008MEDIA ADVISORY For October 3, 2008 Who: Members of Murder Victims? Families for Human Rights (MVFHR) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Amanda Wilcox, mother of victim who was murdered by someone with mental illnessLois Robison, mother of mentally ill son who was executed in TexasKim Crespi, mother of victims murdered by her husband, who suffers from mental illnessBill Babbitt, MVFHR board of directors, brother of mentally ill man who was executedRenny Cushing, MVFHR Executive DirectorRon Honberg, NAMI Legal and Policy Director20 families of victims and families of the executed from around the U...
Texas Attorney General "Not Opposed to Stay" for Charles Hood
Posted on September 05, 2008The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot is not against a stay for Charles Hood. In a legal brief filed today, he is asking that the trial court "fully review the matter, even if it means delaying the execution."The Texas attorney general's office on Thursday took the unusual step of joining the defense in saying that death row inmate Charles Dean Hood should not die until after an investigation into an alleged romantic relationship at the time of his trial between the prosecutor and judge...
Hood gets hearing on judge-prosecutor relationship
Posted on September 04, 2008Chuck Lindell is reporting that Judge Greg Brewer has scheduled a hearing for next Monday, which is before the scheduled execution of Charles Hood. Austin-American Statesman also published a long article about the case in today's paper.Death row inmate Charles Dean Hood will no longer have to wait until after his Sept...
Judges, Prosecutors Urge Texas Governor To Stay Execution in Case Tainted by Affair Between DA & Judge
Posted on September 03, 2008On Sept 10, 2008, the state of Texas is scheduled to execute Charles Dean Hood despite the fact that his trial judge and the DA who prosecuted him were having an affair at the time of Hood's trial.Click here to urge Governor Perry to stop the execution of Charles Hood...
A Letter from Kenneth Foster
Posted on August 31, 2008Below is a letter I received from Kenneth recently that he asked me to share publicly. As we commemorate this anniversary and I pass along these words to you, I keep Kenneth, Tasha and Nydesha in my thoughts because today is also Kenneth's review to decide if he will be granted a new security level...
Kenneth Foster Use of Force Video
Posted on August 31, 2008On August 30, 2007, Texas Governor Rick Perry commuted the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, Jr. following a sustained grassroots campaign led by Kenneth's family and anti-death penalty activists from Texas and across the country. This video was taken the night staff members from Texas' death row transported Kenneth to the death house in Huntsville several hours ahead of schedule...
Rachel King (RIP) 1963-2008
Posted on August 29, 2008Rachel King (RIP) 1963-2008 Rachel King wrote about me several times. It is way past time for me to write something about her. Rachel?s family has requested contributions to the National Coalition the Abolish to Death penalty, in lieu of flowers in her memory Rachel helped the abolition movement in many ways...
Electric chair attraction banned in Paris, France
Posted on August 28, 2008One attraction at a fun park in Paris has been banned today by French authorities and later dismantled and put away by its owner.Visitors to la Fête à Neu-Neu in the outskirts of Paris could admire an authentic, working electric chair imported straight from the United States...
Goddard IMA Commencement Speech by Alumni Mumia Abu-Jamal
Posted on August 27, 2008by Taína Asili | 08.24.2008 This year's graduating class of the Individualized Master of Arts program at Goddard College, VT, proudly invited Mumia Abu-Jamal to be the keynote speaker of their commencement this past Sunday, August 10th 2008...
No moratorium on the death penalty's flaws
Posted on August 27, 2008The column below appeared in the August 27, 2008 edition of UT-Austin's Daily Texan newspaper.In 2007, the Supreme Court accepted a case from a Kentucky inmate challenging the constitutionality of lethal injections. This created a national moratorium on executions that lasted for more than seven months...
Message from Tony: The Time Is Now
Posted on August 27, 2008As I sit here writing, I have Tom Petty's song 'Running down a dream'. This song has been playing over and over inside my head and I have been trying to fathom its meaning in how it relates to my struggle to gain my freedom. See I dont think that my quest to gain my freedom is a dream...
Joe Biden on death penalty
Posted on August 24, 2008The following information were taken from About.com and OntheIssues.org Death Penalty - Strongly Retentionist: Biden's record on death penalty reform is the weakest of any of the 2008 Democratic candidates. He is a supporter of capital punishment, and holds the distinction of being the author of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (often referred to as the "Biden crime bill"), which expanded the federal death penalty to include drug trafficking, a nonviolent offense...
ABC News: Court Stays Execution of Man Who Did Not Kill
Posted on August 22, 2008ABC News has more updates about Jeff Wood's execution stay.A federal court today temporarily stopped the execution of a man who was the getaway driver in a robbery that ended in murder, saying he should have the opportunity to argue he is too mentally ill to be executed...
Black August Film Tonight -- Benefit for 9th Annual March to Stop Executions
Posted on August 22, 2008Who: All InvitedWhat: Movie: "Black August" starring Gary Dourdan as George Jackson plus special guest, Capital XWhen: Friday, August 22, 7:30 PMWhere: SHAPE Community Center, 3815 Live OakWhy: To commemorate Black August and remember our fallen freedom fighters, George Jackson, Jonathan Jackson, and so many more...
Washington Post: Texas Appears Set to Execute Accomplice
Posted on August 21, 2008Here is the Washington Post article on today's scheduled execution of Jeff Wood. Also Democracy Now is planning to send a satellite truck to Livingston today morning to interview Jeff's family members. By Darryl Fears Washington Post Staff WriterThursday, August 21, 2008; Page A02 The state of Texas is scheduled to execute Jeffery Lee Wood by lethal injection tonight, even though he did not actually kill anyone...
Text of Order from Judge Orlando Garcia to Stay Execution of Jeff Wood
Posted on August 21, 2008Judge Orlando Garcia issued this order staying the execution of Jeff Wood on Aug. 21, 2008. Judge Orlando Garcia's Order for a Stay of Execution for Jeff Wood - Upload a Document to Scribd Read this document on Scribd: Judge Orlando Garcia's Order for a Stay of Execution for Jeff Wood
Jeff Wood execution stay is indefinite - Capitol Protest is Still On for Today at 5:30 in Austin
Posted on August 21, 2008The stay is indefinite. Jeff will be evaluated on the competency issues next months and will be re-evaluated in Feb or March of next year. The state is not appealing the ruling. Thanks to everyone who wrote to Gov. Perry and the Board of Paroles and Pardons...
Jeff Wood execution stayed - Capitol Protest is Still On for Today at 5:30 in Austin
Posted on August 21, 2008A federal court has issued a stay for Jeff. According to Jeff's lawyers we should know something more definite in about one hour. The state could still appeal, so we need to be there to protest if there is an appeal. If the stay is firm and there is no execution today, then we will have more of a celebration than a protest...
State Rep. Mike Villarreal asks Perry to stop Jeff Wood's execution
Posted on August 21, 2008Last week, ten legislators wrote a letter to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Perry urging clemency for Jeff Wood. Here is another letter from a state legislator: State Representative Mike Villareal. We also know that Rep Dora Olivo wrote her own letter...
New Execution Dates
Posted on August 20, 2008TEXAS:Rogelio Cannady has been given a Nov. 6 execution date, and Eric Catheyhas been given an execution date of Nov. 18; they should both beconsidered serious.(sources: TDCJ & Rick Halperin)*****************************Impending Texas execution schedule # since 1982 # under PerryAugust 21 Jeff Wood 414 175Sept...
Texas Panel Rejects Plea to Halt Execution of Accomplice in 1996 Murder
Posted on August 20, 2008The New York Times is reporting that Governor Perry "hasn?t made a decision" on whether to grant a 30 day stay of execution for Jeff Wood. So, please call his office and urge him to issue a stay.Please call the Governor of Texas at 512-463-2000Office of the Governor Fax: (512) 463-1849Tell the Governor to Issue a 30-day Stay of Execution to Jeff WoodJeff is Scheduled for Execution Thursday, Aug 21, so CALL NOW! Send an Email to Governor Perry Through His Website By JAMES C...
Parole board rejects clemency for non-triggerman
Posted on August 20, 2008The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected Jeff Wood's clemency request. Associated Press has more: HUNTSVILLE, Texas ? The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday rejected a clemency request for condemned inmate Jeffery Wood, moving him a step closer to execution this week...
Stop the Execution: Jeff Wood Faces Death Tomorrow for a Murder He Didn't Commit
Posted on August 20, 2008Thats the title of Liliana Segura's article for Alternet about the tomorrow's scheduled execution for Jeff Wood.The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has unanimously denied clemency for Jeff Wood, a man who killed no one. This cannot be tolerated.Imagine being 14 years old and waiting to learn whether your father is going to live or die...
Texas Death Row: Where Innocence is Irrelevant
Posted on August 18, 2008On August 21, Texas will execute Jeff Wood for the murder of Kris Keeran, even though there is a consensus that Wood did not murder, intend to murder, or know that a murder was going to take place. Wood was sentenced to death under the Law of Parties, section 7...
Sanders: Another execution is scheduled under flawed law-of-parties provision
Posted on August 17, 2008Bob Ray Sander's of the Fort-Worth Star Telegram has written a great column about execution of Jeff Wood.Make a note of this name: Jeffery Lee Wood. And this date: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008.That?s Wood?s scheduled date of execution, two days after his 35th birthday...
Letter From Texas Legislators to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Urging Commutation of Jeff Wood's Death Sentence
Posted on August 15, 2008Below is a letter from ten Texas legislators (see original) to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles urging them to grant clemency to Jeff Wood. In addition to this letter, other legislators have told us that they have sent their own letters, including Rep...
KUT Covers delivery of petitions and letters to BPP for Jeff Wood
Posted on August 15, 2008Jeffery Wood is scheduled to be executed next week for the murder of a convenience store clerk in Kerrville. But Wood did not actually commit the murder. Wood?s family argues that fact should keep out of the state?s death chamber. Click here listen to the audio report at KUT's website or download the mp3 audio file here...
Mike Farrell Writes Letter Asking for Clemency for Jeff Wood
Posted on August 14, 2008From: Mike FarrellAugust 11, 2008Ms. Rissie Owens, ChairTexas Board of Pardons and Paroles8610 Shoal Creek Blvd.Austin, TX 78757Dear Ms. Owens,I write in support of clemency for Jeff Wood, who is scheduled to be executed in your state in ten days. Mr...
Austin Chronicle: Defense Lawyers Try to Halt Execution
Posted on August 14, 2008Thats the title of Jordan Smith's article in the Austin Chronicle about execution of Jeff Wood. Death penalty opponents rally Tuesday outside the Capitol. Photo by Sandy Carson Since Texas reinstated the death penalty in 1976, only six people have been executed for a murder in which they did not directly participate, according to the Death Penalty Information Center...
The Guardian: Death and Texas
Posted on August 14, 2008Thats the title of recent Guardian article about execution of Jeff Wood.by Maura KellyGovernor Rick Perry and his state's flawed judicial system are now executing convicts for crimes they did not commitTexans - or at least governor Rick Perry and his supporters - seem to love the death penalty almost as much as flying the state flag...
Video petition to Gov. Rick Perry
Posted on August 14, 2008Danny Wood, father of Jeff Wood asks governor Perry in this video petition to stop his son's execution.Jeff Wood's step-mother:
Save Wood rally and press conference
Posted on August 14, 2008Media AdvisoryFor immediate release: August 14, 2008Contacts:Scott Cobb, PresidentTexas Moratorium Network512-689-1544scottcobb99@gmail.comTerri Been B.S., M. Ed, Sister of Jeff Woodmystrus@hotmail.com254-371-5650Kristin Wood, Wife of Jeff Wood936-259-2182kristinoftebro@gmail...
Save Jeff Wood music video
Posted on August 14, 2008Raptivist Capital-"X" advocating for Death Row prisoner Jeff Wood, who is set to die on August 21, 2008
Save Jeff Wood event and execution of Rodriguez
Posted on August 14, 2008PLEASE, we need more folks to sign up to go to Austin on Saturday for a noon rally for Jeff Wood. Jeff's execution date is next Thursday and we really need to take it up a notch. Folks will meet on 11th street in front of the Capitol and we will march on Congress to 6th Street and then come back up Congress to the Capitol for a Rally...
Should murder accomplices face execution?
Posted on August 13, 2008By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff WriterAn execution last month in Mississippi and another scheduled for this month in Texas have reignited a debate over whether the death penalty should be given to those who participate in killings ? but do not personally carry them out...
Ramsey Clark's Letter for Jeff Wood
Posted on August 13, 2008RAMSEY CLARK37 WEST 12TH STREET NEW YORK, N.Y. 10011 212-989-6613 212-979-1583 FAX August 12, 2008 The Honorable Rick Perry Governor, State of Texas State Capitol, Room 2S.I Austin, Texas 78701 Ms. Rissie Owens, Chair Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles 8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard Austin, Texas 78757 Re: Jeffrey Wood, TDJC No...
Washington Post: Texas's Disdain
Posted on August 12, 2008Thats the title of Washington Post editorial about the José Ernesto Medellí. THE STATE of Texas had an opportunity this week to display a victor's grace. Instead, it rebuffed pleas by the U.S. secretary of state and the U.S. attorney general for help in resolving an international dispute and in the process gave the back of its hand to the country and its obligations...
Ralph Nader on death penalty
Posted on August 10, 2008Ralph Nader visited Austin a few weeks ago and during his press conference we asked about his position on the death penalty. You can also view the full video of his campaign rally here.
Heliberto Chi execution report from Huntsville, Texas
Posted on August 08, 2008Fellow Abolitionists, Tonight, Texas again did the unthinkable---it ignored the international law that guarantees someone arrested in a foreign country the right to see a representative of their country or origin. And, not only did they thumb the nose at international law, but also at a treaty signed by the US and Honduras back in 1927, ironically called some thing like the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce...
Will an unjust law claim another victim?
Posted on August 08, 2008Thats the title of Bryan McCann's article for the Socialist Worker about the execution of Jeff Wood. Bryan McCann of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty explains that Texas' Law of Parties--under which defendants can be held responsible for murder just by being at the scene--is poised to take another life...
Texas Man Who Didn't Kill to Be Executed
Posted on August 08, 2008Thats the title of ABC News article about execution of Jeff Wood. Texas is scheduled to put a man to death this month even though he never killed anyone, in what apparently would be the first execution of its kind in more than a decade. Texas death row inmate Jeff Wood and his wife Kristin...
Copy of Jeff Wood Clemency Petition
Posted on August 07, 2008Clemency Petition for Jeff Wood to Texas Governor and Board of Pardons and Paroles - Upload a Document to Scribd Read this document on Scribd: Clemency Petition for Jeff Wood to Texas Governor and Board of Pardons and Paroles
Medellin execution report from Huntsville
Posted on August 06, 2008Fellow Abolitionists,This damned state of Texas that thinks it is above international law. It is 12:30 in the morning and a car of us with the Abolition Movement just returned from Huntsville. Oh my god, what a horrible night. It was raining on and off because of the tropical storm that hit Texas this morning...
Texas executed Jose Medellin
Posted on August 06, 2008Texas executed Jose Medellin tonight despite the International Court of Justice order to halt the executions. Here is the NYT article on the execution:HOUSTON ? In a case that has drawn international attention, Texas executed José E. Medellín on Tuesday night in defiance of an international court ruling and despite pleas from the Bush administration for a new hearing...
Watch the Birds beat Texas with MD CASE
Posted on August 06, 2008As anti-death penalty activists, we can easily admit that it is very hard to beat the death penalty in Texas. But with the upcoming death penalty hearing in Annapolis, we might have a chance to beat the death penalty in Maryland. Click here to buy tickets!
Lawrence Foster, Grandfather of Kenneth Foster, Jr. on Kenneth Foster
Posted on August 06, 2008The following video is from last Monday's death penalty panel discussion at the Monkeywrench books in Austin. Visit Stop Executions blog for Mr. Foster's statement that was read at the Save Jeff Wood rally in San Antonio on August 2, 2008.
Statement by the Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis
Posted on August 06, 2008Press release - 570(2008)Execution in Texas: US should end its pick and choose attitude towards international lawStatement by Council of Europe Secretary General Terry DavisStrasbourg, 06.08.2008 - ?I am most concerned by the execution of Mexican national José Medellin yesterday in Texas...
Kids Against the Death Penalty for Jeff Wood
Posted on August 06, 2008During last week's rally to Save Jeff Wood several of his nieces, nephews and their friends attended wearing t-shirts that read KADP, Kids Against the Death Penalty. Below is a video of them speaking with Capital-X about why they started KADP. These kids are amazingly articulate about how they feel about the death penalty...
Joan Baez - Prison Trilogy aka Three Stories
Posted on August 05, 2008Performance by Joan Baez from sing sing prison in 1972. In December 2005, Baez appeared at the California protest at San Quentin prison against the execution of Tookie Williams. There, she sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". She had previously performed the same song at San Quentin at the 1992 vigil protesting the execution of Robert Alton Harris, the first man to be executed in California after the death penalty was reinstated.
Texas Injustice: Family Members Speak Out
Posted on August 04, 2008Monday, August 4, 8:00 PMMonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop Blvd.Family members of death row inmates tell their stories about the criminal injustice system. Featuring Sandra Reed, mother of Rodney Reed, innocent on death row; Lawrence Foster, grandfather of Kenneth Foster Jr...
Express News: Inmate's supporters appeal to governor
Posted on August 03, 2008San Antonio Express-News has published an article about our rally at the Alamo in support of Jeff Wood. Also most of the local news channels were present. I will post some of the video reports as they become available online.Supporters of Texas inmate Jeffrey Wood, scheduled to die Aug...
Austin Chronicle: Should Have Been Anticipated
Posted on July 31, 2008Thats title of Jordan Smith's article in the Austin Chronicle about execution of Jeff Wood. There is also a rally planned this weekend to support Jeff Wood in San Antonio, Texas.Should Have Been Anticipated Jeffrey Wood Scheduled for execution Aug...
Hickman: Texas needs to start a dialogue on the death penalty
Posted on July 30, 2008Austin Musician Sarah Hickman has an Op-Ed in today's Austin-American Statesman about her opposition to the death penalty. In the early 1990s, I started correspondence with a man on death row. After a few years of writing, I went to visit him in person...
Media Advisory - Save Jeff Wood from the Texas Executioner
Posted on July 30, 2008Media AdvisoryFor immediate release: July 29, 2008Contacts:Terri Been B.S., M. Ed, Sister of Jeff Woodmystrus@hotmail.com254-371-5650Scott Cobb, PresidentTexas Moratorium Network512-689-1544scottcobb99@gmail.comKristin Wood, Wife of Jeff Wood936-259-2182kristinoftebro@gmail...
Thomas D. Arthur's execution stayed
Posted on July 30, 2008Alabama Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote has stayed the execution of Thomas D. Arthur. Below you can find Bobby Ray Gilbert's affidavit confessing to the murder.
Dallas Morning News: Gov. Perry should halt this execution
Posted on July 30, 2008Dallas Morning News has called on Gov. Rick Perry to stop execution of José Medellín in order to protect Americans abroad. All eyes are on Gov. Rick Perry regarding the Aug. 5 execution date for José Medellín, a Mexican who confessed to the 1993 gang rape and murder of two Houston teenage girls...
Condoleezza Rice asks Perry to stop execution of Jose Medellin
Posted on July 29, 2008According to Dallas Morning News, Condoleezza Rice and Attorney General Michael Mukasey has asked Gov. Rick Perry to stop execution of Jose Medellin in order to protect American's abroad. Fourteen years and numerous judicial reviews have passed since José Medellin was sentenced to die after confessing to the brutal gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in Houston...
Save Jeff Wood Rally
Posted on July 29, 2008When: Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 @ 12:00 pm Where: In front of the Alamo in San Antoniowww.SaveJeffwood.com Like Kenneth Foster, Jeff Wood was convicted under the Law of Parties. Jeff has an execution date of Aug. 21, for a murder he did NOT commit!!! Come & help save Jeff from the Texas executioner! You can Help!!! The time to act is NOW!!!!
Did Chuck Rosenthal hide evidence?
Posted on July 28, 2008Check out the following AP article and keep the following in mind: Chuck Rosenthal is guilty of hiding evidence when he prosecuted Ronnie E. Johnson for capital murder back in 1994. Six weeks before his execution, Lonnie?s lawyer and private investigator found missing evidence contained within police reports at the Harris County District Atorney's office that supported his claim of self-defense...
What the Death Penalty Has Done To Me
Posted on July 20, 2008By Christy ArmellAugust 30th, 2007 will forever be engraved in my mind. This is the day that the state of Texas was going to execute my friend Kenneth Foster. I remember going to bed the night before, with Kenneth?s letters right beside me thinking I may never get another letter from him...
Maryland State Police spied on Campaign to end the Death Penalty
Posted on July 18, 2008American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland through a lawsuit has obtained 46 pages of documents from the Maryland State Police, revealing how undercover police officers infiltrated local anti-death penalty and anti-war groups. You can watch the video coverage at WBALTV's website...
Murder victims' group writes clemency letter for Jeff Wood
Posted on July 18, 2008July 16, 2008 The Honorable Rick Perry Governor, State of Texas P.O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 78711-2428 Ms. Rissie Owens, Chair Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles 8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard Austin, Texas 78757 Re: Jeffrey Wood, TDJC No. 999256 Dear Governor Perry and Chairwoman Owens: Our organization consists of hundreds of family members of murder victims plus thousands of "Friends of MVFR"...
News: International Court of Justice Press Release
Posted on July 16, 2008PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Katharine Huffman: 202-360-1991 July 16, 2008 INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE ISSUES PROVISIONAL MEASURES TO PREVENT IMMINENT VIOLATION OF U...
Howard County Joins Public Defender Task Force
Posted on July 15, 2008Here is News West 9's report:by Victor LopezNewsWest 9 HOWARD COUNTY-- It cost them nothing to join, but it could save thousands of tax dollars. Howard County Commissioners said yes, Monday morning, to joining the Public Defender Task Force, all to cut the cost of paying for a public defender in a death penalty case...
Drop All the Charges in the Yogurt Shop Case NOW!
Posted on July 14, 2008DNA EXONORATES SCOTT AND SPRINGSTEEN! Picket and Press Event at Yogurt Shop hearing:Tuesday, July 15th at 12:30PMTravis County Courthouse Plaza, off Guadalupe between 10th and 11th.Things are heating up in the Yogurt Shop case! As many of you may know, long time CEDP member Jeannine Scott is fighting for her husband Michael Scott, who was wrongfully imprisoned for murder in this case...
China refuses to consider 250,000-strong petition
Posted on July 14, 2008A World Coalition delegation found the door closed on June 16 when they attempted to handover to the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong a petition urging for changes in the death penalty system in China.Stopped at the outside door of the building, it was refused the chance to be met by any official on the explanation that ?this is a political issue?...
Lonnie Earl Johnson Foundation
Posted on July 14, 2008PRESS RELEASE Lonnie Johnson was unlawfully executed on July 24, 2007 for killing two teenage boys on August 15, 1990. Six weeks prior to his death, his defense team found police reports hidden in Mr. Johnson's prosecuting attorney's file at the District Attorney's office...
Sanders: Another troubling Dallas case
Posted on July 09, 2008Thats the title of Bob Ray Sander's column in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram against the execution of Carlton Akee Turner.The case of Carlton Akee Turner, who is scheduled for the Texas death chamber Thursday evening, presents the state and its noble citizens a whole set of conundrums: What really should be done with troubled youths who commit horrible crimes? Do we truly care about the feelings of the victims? families and how they view "closure"? How should our highest criminal court deal with cases from Dallas County particularly, with its history of racism, terribly flawed investigations and what some see as true "criminal" prosecution tactics of the recent past? At what point do the people of Texas say "enough is enough" when it comes to capital punishment, even for those who committed a crime, as Turner most certainly did?Many of you will remember the case of the Irving teenager arrested and charged with murdering his own parents, two revered people in the community who had adopted him as an 11-month-old baby...
Pakistan's parliament bans the death penalty
Posted on July 04, 2008Asia News is reporting that Pakistan's parliament has abolished the death penalty. Now the bill awaits Musharraf's signature in order to become law.by Qaiser FelixThe bill launched by the premier to commemorate Benazir Bhutto was ratified by the government and now awaits President Musharraf?s signature...
Jester Leroy's execution stayed
Posted on July 03, 2008Fort Worth Star-Telegram has the earliest update on the case.BY TIM MADIGANA state judge in Sherman has postponed the July 22 execution date of Lester Leroy Bower Jr. and plans to hold hearings that could involve the Arlington man?s claims of innocence...
Paul House will be released today
Posted on July 02, 2008This is the great news from Tennessee. According to the Tennessean, Paul House will be released today. TCASK will probably have some more updates soon. Paul Gregory House will celebrate the Fourth of July at home this Friday thanks to an anonymous donor who sent his mother the $10,000 bail needed for his release from state custody...
Artificial brain predicts death-row executions
Posted on June 27, 2008That is the title of New Scientist article about the brain and death penalty. (Access to full article requires a $5.95 subscription to the magazine. You can read the study abstract or full study for free.) Intro to New Scientist article... WHICH inmates on death row will eventually be executed? Many never make the final journey from prison cell to execution chamber - but nobody really understands who will be spared...
A plea from Terri Been, Jeff Wood's sister
Posted on June 26, 2008Hello.My name is Terri Been and I am a Texas republican who is AGAINST the death penalty. I am sorry to say that it was not always this way as I was raised to believe in the death penalty; BUT my views changed over 10 years ago when I was thrust unwillingly into the Texas Judicial system; at which time my eyes were opened to the complete injustice of our whole system...
Why I Oppose the Death Penalty
Posted on June 26, 2008As an African American woman living in Oakland, whose brother was murdered, I strongly oppose the death penalty. More than anything, I want to live in a safe community?a community where my six sons and my daughter are able to pursue all of theirs dreams without fear of becoming another number in the city homicide count...
Mexico asks World Court to halt U.S. executions
Posted on June 26, 2008Here is a Reuters article from last week. By Emma Thomasson THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Mexico asked the World Court on Thursday to take urgent steps to stop imminent U.S. executions of five Mexicans on death row who were denied their rights to consular assistance...
Introducing A Boy Named Rocky: A Coloring Book for the Children of Incarcerated Parents.
Posted on June 25, 2008This coloring book will help children discuss and understand their feelings. It can be used in educational, therapeutic, and family settings to explore loss and help maintain family cohesiveness during parent-child separation. Children with incarcerated parents are an invisible population...
Supreme Court rejects death penalty for raping children
Posted on June 25, 2008The Court has released the opinion in Kennedy v. Louisiana (07-343), on whether the Eighth Amendment prohibits states from imposing the death penalty for child rape, and, if not, whether Louisiana's statute fails to narrow the class of offenders eligible for the death penalty...
KXAN: Judge rejects ex-Georgetown sergeant's plea bargain
Posted on June 24, 2008Here is the Jimmy Fennel update from KXAN GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- A judge on Tuesday rejected the plea bargain presented in the case of Jimmy Fennell, the former Georgetown police officer charged with sexual assault. Fennell pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexual misconduct last month...
The Onion: Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'
Posted on June 24, 2008Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'
15th Annual Fast and Vigil Approaching
Posted on June 17, 2008Taken from Abolish blog. Every year, for the past fifteen years, from June 29 ? July 2nd, something amazing happens in Washington, DC. Abolitionists from around the country and world come together for a four day Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty...
Charles Hood execution order withdrawn
Posted on June 17, 2008State District Judge Curt Henderson in Collin County has withdrawn theexecution order for Charles Hood. Details to follow.
Headline: Stay the execution of Charles Dean Hood
Posted on June 17, 2008Thats title of today's Dallas Morning News editorial about Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' ruling against a stay of execution for Charles Dean Hood.The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals failed to uphold the integrity of the justice system yesterday by refusing to stay the execution of murderer Charles Dean Hood...
Report from the Texas Democratic Convention
Posted on June 15, 2008by Barbara AcunaThe last two days have been a roller coaster ride for everyone at the TX State Democratic Convention with the Resolution to Abolish the Death Penalty in Texas. Sitting in the Resolutions Committee meeting, the anticipation of what was about to happen had us on the edge of our seats...
The Barack Obama I know
Posted on June 12, 2008By Jennifer Bishop Jenkins from Northfield, Illinois "I did not know Senator Barack Obama at all, but like many others here in Illinois became completely convinced about his leadership abilities after I had the opportunity to watch him deftly help guide our state through a crisis in our criminal justice system...
Austinites Protest the Resumption of Texas Executions:
Posted on June 11, 2008"STOP THE EXECUTION OF KARL CHAMBERLAIN" Austin, TX ? June 10, 2008 ? Members of the Campaign to END the Death Penalty and opponents of Capital Punishment will rally in downtown Austin Wednesday, June 11 to protest the execution of Karl Chamberlain and the resumption of executions in Texas after an eight-month hiatus...
The Barak Obama I know
Posted on June 11, 2008By Jennifer Bishop Jenkins from Northfield, Illinois "I did not know Senator Barack Obama at all, but like many others here in Illinois became completely convinced about his leadership abilities after I had the opportunity to watch him deftly help guide our state through a crisis in our criminal justice system...
Karl Chamberlain Executed in Texas
Posted on June 11, 2008The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Texas has executed convicted killer Karl Eugene Chamberlain for the rape-slaying of a woman in Dallas 17 years ago, making him the first Texas prisoner in nearly nine months to be put to death in the nation's most active death penalty state...
Inside the Architecture of Authority
Posted on May 30, 2008Wired Magazine has published a collection of photographs by Richard Ross titled, "Inside the Architecture of Authority." The first picture is the death chamber at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.A new book by photographer Richard Ross, Architecture of Authority, examines the way institutional buildings exert power over people...
Cuba to commute death sentences
Posted on May 30, 2008I just found this BBC News article from April 29 in my inbox about Raul Castro's commutation of death sentences.Cuba's President Raul Castro says nearly all death sentences are to be commuted to prison terms of between 30 years and life.It is the latest in a series of liberalising measures...
Mike Kennedy, RIP
Posted on May 28, 2008I first met Mike Kennedy during the annual Fast and Vigil to Abolish the Death penalty and later several times in Texas, including the 2007 Journey of Hope. Abe Bonowitz's has done a blog post about Mike Kennedy which I am copying here. More is here...
Tonight! (Tuesday) Protest & Press Conference for Yogurt Shop Case-AUSTIN
Posted on May 27, 2008Jeannine Scott, wife of wrongly convicted Yogurt Shop defendant Michael Scott, has been a tireless fighter against the death penalty and has worked on behalf of so many men and women for justice over the years. With Mike?s new trial around the corner, we have a real chance to win justice and bring him home...
Collin County DA admits Michael Blair should not be on death row
Posted on May 24, 2008Months after DNA evidence proved that a hair used to connect Michael Blairto Ashley Estell did not belong to either person, the Collin County DA hasfinally admitted that Michael Blair's conviction cannot stand. On deathrow, he is case number 999122, but he won't be there for long...
Listen to Rev. Carroll Pickett interviewed on Fresh Air
Posted on May 21, 2008You can listen to the interview at:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90526632May 19, 2008 | Fresh Air from WHYY | 39 min 19 secLegal AffairsChaplain Discusses 'Death House' MinistryReverend Carroll Pickett was the death-house chaplain at the Walls prison unitin Huntsville, Texas for 13 years...
Reverend Carroll Pickett on NPR's Fresh Air
Posted on May 19, 2008Reverend Carroll Pickett, the subject of "At the Death House Door" will be interviewed today on NPR's Fresh Air. Tune in to your local NPR station to listen. The archive will be posted online at 3pm Eastern Time: http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown...
People Scheduled to be Executed in Texas
Posted on May 16, 2008Legal Lynching Date + No. for TX Last Name First Name TDCJ Number Date of Birth Race County 06/03/2008 ? Tuesday -- #406 Sonnier Derrick 999054 10/26/1967 B Harris 06/11/2008 ? Wednesday #407 Chamberlain Karl 999241 06/20/1970 W Dallas 06/17/2008 ? Tuesday -- #408 Hood Charles 000982 08/20/1969 W Collin 07/10/2008 ?Thursday -- #409 Turner Carlton 999321 07/04/1979 B Dallas 07/22/2008 ? Tuesday -- #410 Bower Lester 000764 11/20/1947 W Grayson 07/31/2008 ? Thursday -- #411 Davis Larry 999316 10/09/1967 B Potter 08/05/2008 ? Tuesday -- #412 Medellin Jose 999134 03/04/1975 H Harris 08/14/2008 ? Thursday -- #413 Rodriguez Michael 999413 10/29/1962 H Dallas 08/20/2008 ? Wednesday #414 Manns Denard 999405 12/22/1965 B Bell 09/09/2008 ? Tuesday -- #415 Wright Gregory 999253 11/01/1965 W Dallas There?s no right way to do the wrong thing! The death penalty is racist and anti-poor! ABOLITION NOW! FUTURE DEATH PENALTY ACTIVITIES:Saturday, May 24 29th Annual Pan African Festival?Help staff the Abolition Movement?s table @ SHAPE Center, 3815 Live Oak Friday, May 30 Rapper Capital X in Houston -- after walking 1700 miles from New Jersey to Texas to oppose the death penalty...
State needs innocence commission
Posted on May 14, 2008That is the title of Dallas Morning News' recent editorial calling for creation of Texas Innocence Commission. A poignant drama unfolded in the state Capitol last week that should have been witnessed by all Texans. Nine men at a head table in the Senate chamber looked out at a sea of faces and shared stories of lost freedom...
Protest at yogurt shop case hearing for Michael Scott
Posted on May 12, 2008TELL TRAVIS COUNTY: DROP ALL THE CHARGES, BRING THEM HOME NOW!Wednesday, May 14th at 1PMTravis County Courthouse Plaza, off Lavaca between 10th and 11th.Things are heating up in the Yogurt Shop case! As many of you may know, long time CEDP member Jeannine Scott is fighting for her husband Michael Scott, who was wrongfully imprisoned for murder in this case...
Report from the Summit on Wrongful Convictions
Posted on May 09, 2008Friends, Six of us with the Abolition Movement went to Austin today for the Summit on Wrongful Convictions sponsored by Texas Senator Rodney Ellis. Today was an amazing day -- meeting 9 exonerees, meeting the Dallas DA that has the courage to do the right thing, speaking with legislators who agree with us that DA's that commit misconduct should go to jail...
Protest the First Texas Execution in 9 Months at Rick Perry's Home
Posted on May 08, 2008There will be protests of the first execution in Texas after the Supreme Court ruling allowing executions to resume after a de facto moratorium since Sept 25. The protests will occur prior to the first execution. Currently, the first execution is on June 3rd...
Summit on Wrongful Convictions
Posted on May 05, 2008(Austin, TX; April 29, 2008) ? State Senator Rodney Ellis today announced that a day-long Summit on Wrongful Convictions will be held May 8 at the State Capitol in Austin to determine the causes of wrongful convictions in Texas and identify reforms that can prevent them...
Innocence Project of Texas and James Woodard on CBS's 60 Minutes
Posted on May 04, 2008CBS "60 Minutes" - Sunday, May 4 Tune in to CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday, May 4 to learn more about the Innocence Project of Texas's involvement in securing the release of James Lee Woodard, who served more than 27 years in prison for a Dallas County murder that he has always maintained he did not commit...
Dallas Morning News Editorial: Free to kill again
Posted on April 24, 2008This editorial was published on April 17, by the Dallas Morning News.The Supreme Court decision yesterday allowing execution by lethal injection eventually will free the nation's busiest death chamber ? the one in Huntsville, Texas ? to pick up where it left off...
More details about the death of Diana Shorthouse
Posted on April 23, 2008Fellow Abolitionists, I want to let you all know that one of the Abolition Movement's long-time members and a friend to many of us in the Abolition Movement was murdered. Diana Shorthouse began working with us maybe 10 or 12 years ago. She has not been a regular at meetings for a few years now--probably 4 or 5 years...
Anti death penalty activist murdered
Posted on April 22, 2008Dear Friends, The Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement lost one of our long-time members and an activist against the death penalty here in Houston, Texas. Diana Shorthouse was murdered a few weeks ago and leaves a beautiful daughter, Jolie. The Abolition Movement will have a short memorial tribute to Diana before our May meeting which will be on Tuesday, May 6, at the S...
Dont Miss Boston Legal tonight
Posted on April 22, 2008Tonight is the promised episode of Boston Legal where the lawyers take on the Supreme Court and the Death Penalty in a non-murder rape case from deep south. Several people from the abolitionist community visited the set in March and saw the episode being filmed...
Justice Stevens renounces death penalty
Posted on April 20, 2008Justice John Paul Stevens who in 1976 announced an opinion allowing resumption of the death penalty, has now turned against the death penalty making him the only abolitionist person in the court. Here is NYT's article about this issue.By LINDA GREENHOUSEWASHINGTON ? When Justice John Paul Stevens intervened in a Supreme Court argument on Wednesday to score a few points off the lawyer who was defending the death penalty for the rape of a child, the courtroom audience saw a master strategist at work, fully in command of the flow of the argument and the smallest details of the case...
National Crime Victims' Rights Week
Posted on April 16, 2008This is taken from EJUSA's weekly newsletter about the National Crime Victims' Rights Week.4.16.08 Greetings! This week is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. For me, it's a powerful reminder of one of the most important (and often overlooked) reasons to support a moratorium on executions...
Supreme Court OK's lethal injections
Posted on April 16, 2008As expected, today in a 7-2 decision the Supreme Court found the lethal injection to be constitutional. Capital Defense Weekly has more details about the decision. You can read the full text of the opinion online.NYT: Supreme Court Allows Lethal Injection for ExecutionAP: Executions to resume after high court OK's lethal injectionsSCOTUS Blog: Analysis: Limit may be imposed on death penalty for child rape
Nation Student Writing Contest
Posted on April 16, 2008We're looking for original, thoughtful student voices to answer this question: What have you learned from a personal experience that the next president should know before setting the agenda for the country? Essays should not exceed 800 words and should be original, unpublished work that demonstrates fresh, clear thinking and superior quality of expression and craftsmanship...
Think twice about Lehmberg
Posted on April 09, 2008Published by The Daily TexanImagine that an 11-year-old girl who has no violent history gets arrested, charged with capital murder and is hidden from her parents for four days. During that period, the interrogators question her for hours without break and with no lawyer present until she finally signs a false statement that she can not even read...
ROSEMARY LEHMBERG - A TALE OF TWO CHILDREN
Posted on April 02, 2008ROSEMARY LEHMBERG - A TALE OF TWO CHILDRENby Barbara A. Taft, President People of the HeartGary Cobb, one of the perpetrators of the travesty launched against an innocent child, LaCresha Murray, in 1996, has been eliminated from the race for District Attorney...
Prison Board to Have Open comments this Thursday
Posted on March 25, 2008Dear Fellow Activists, On Thursday, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice will be meeting in Austin and this is one of only two times each year when the public can address this board on any issue they choose. the next one is in July. This board controls the lives of all those in Texas prisons...
Message & Call to Action from Kenneth Foster
Posted on March 24, 2008March 18, 2008 Dear Friends, I know that many of you have been waiting for some official words from me since I?ve been at my new Unit. And I apologize for the delay. I had hoped, when I made my first journal, that I could bring some good news. Of course the good news remains that I?m here and have the chance to keep this fight going...
Podcast: Bryan McCann on Debating the Death Penalty
Posted on March 23, 2008DC Tedrow of The New Texas Radical has published a Podcast of the workshop by Bryan McCann on debating the death penalty. On March 11, 2008, McCann gave a talk at UT-Austin on debating the death penalty, focusing on knowing one's audience, providing a framework for debate, specific death penalty cases, and the state of the capital punishment system today...
Spring Break in the Belly of the Beast
Posted on March 22, 2008Alternet has published an article by UT's Bryan McCann about the 2008 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break. By Bryan McCann, AlterNet. Posted March 19, 2008.At the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break in Texas, students learn what it takes to fight state killing -- against all odds...
A Broken System ? Crying out For Justice
Posted on March 20, 20082007 ? 2008 National Speaking Tour In Austin, April 9, 2008 7 PM at UT, The Texas Union Chicano Culture Room, 4.206 Featuring Mothers of Texas Death Row Prisoners: Sandra Reed ? mother of Rodney Reed Anna Terrell - mother of Reginald Blanton Lee Greenwood ? mother of Joseph Nichols, killed March 7, 2007 A ?Live From Death Row? Event, with a call from a death row prisoner...
People's Tribunal Against the Death Penalty
Posted on March 19, 2008One of the events during last week's anti-death penalty spring break was the People's Tribunal Against the Death Penalty. During the tribunal, students and members of the public put the death penalty "on trial." It was conducted as a sort of public "trial" at which the "defendant" was the death penalty...
Georgia Supreme Court to Troy Davis: Innocence doesn't matter
Posted on March 17, 2008Capital Defense Weekly just reported that the Georgia Supreme Court denied a new trial for Troy Davis. According to Karl Keys, "In a sharp 4-3 decision the Georgia Supreme Court denies relief over a strong claim of innocence. The evidence of innocence, the majority holds, comes too late...
New Writing and Poem by Kenneth Foster/Haramia KiNassor
Posted on March 14, 2008As I look out my window?.the building looks just like death row. I can?t help but to stare at it. The building is the same. The windows are the same. Even the area surrounding it is almost identical. I can?t seem to take my eyes off the building. I watch it as if it was going to jump out the way...
2008 Alternative Spring Break Schedule
Posted on March 09, 2008Below is the schedule for 2008. There may still be some slight changes. Go to TSADP blog for daily spring break blogs by participants. Monday, March 10 Before 2 PM Housing check-in for people who have signed up for housing. We have rented several hotel rooms...
The Roosevelt Institution New Deal Essay Contest
Posted on March 02, 2008Co-Sponsored by The NationThe Roosevelt Institution is asking students what relevance FDR and the New Deal have for the 21st Century. The winning essay, or excerpts, will be published in The Nation and the author will be awarded $500. The top five submissions will be published at StudentNation...
Houston Chronicle: DNA déjà vu
Posted on March 02, 2008Thats title of today's editorial by Houston Chronicle about Harris County's crime lab. How hard can it be to run a forensic lab according to the rules? The many episodes of the CSI television dramas usually get it right, but at the Houston Police Department's crime lab, the real-life employees can't seem to get their act together...
Alternative Spring Breaks
Posted on March 01, 2008Party later. Change the world now!This year students will have three exciting opportunities to use their spring breaks to fight for progressive social change! Campus Progress is teaming up with several partner organizations to organize Alternative Spring Breaks on three different issues...
Kinky Friedman Endorses Rick Reed at State Capitol Press Conference
Posted on February 29, 2008Kinky Friedman Endorses Rick Reedfor Travis County DAFor Immediate ReleaseFebruary 29, 2008Austin?Today, Kinky Friedman, renowned Texas author, musician, humorist, and former independent candidate for Texas Governor, announced his endorsement of Rick Reed for Travis County District Attorney...
What sets Rick Reed apart...
Posted on February 29, 2008Rick Reed has the smarter, more progressive stance on the issue of capital punishment...No doubt about it ... heinous, horrific crimes occasionally take place in Travis County. When they do, Rick Reed understands and respects the pain felt by the victims' friends and family members...
Capital-X to Walk For Life
Posted on February 29, 2008International Human Rights Activist to "Walk 4 Life" to Abolish the DeathPenalty From Trenton New Jersey to Texas Andre Latallade, also knownas Capital-"X" will walk from Trenton New Jersey, approximately 1,700miles to the Governors mansion in Texas in an attempt to bring awarenessto the death penalty...
Rick Reed best choice for district attorney
Posted on February 26, 2008Published by The Daily TexanBy Hooman HedayatiOn March 4, Travis County residents will vote for a new district attorney. Ronnie Earle, the current district attorney, announced last year that he is planning to retire after more than 30 years in office...
The Economist: America's most vengeful prosecutor - You've got mail
Posted on February 22, 2008Here is a recent article by the Economist Magazine about former Harris County DA Chuck Rosenthal.The death penalty's favourite district attorney resigns The biter bit HARRIS COUNTY, which encompasses Houston, is the most populous in Texas. Its district attorney is among the most powerful prosecutors in America...
Kinky Friedman to endorse Rick Reed
Posted on February 21, 2008Rick Reed has received another endorsement. This time the former Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman. He is going to be on Austin's 590 AM KLBJ at 4:10 to announce his endorsement.
Peter Rothberg of The Nation endorses Rick Reed
Posted on February 21, 2008Rick Reed has been getting several endorsements in the last week. Today Peter Rothberg of The Nation magazine announced his support of Rick Reed in his blog and invited the readers to support his campaign. Hillary Clinton has staked her campaign on winning the Democratic primaries in Texas on March 4...
Daily Texan endorses Rick Reed
Posted on February 21, 2008On Wednesday the Daily Texan endorsed Rick Reed for the Travis County District Attorney. Here is what they had to say about him.Since Ronnie Earle has decided not to seek re-election after holding the seat for 31 years, a new district attorney is something many Travis County voters will see for the first time this year...
Update on Kenneth Foster & the situation at the McConnell Unit
Posted on February 18, 2008Hello Everyone,Kenneth Foster asked me to update everyone on the situation at the McConnellUnit. The last few months Kenneth and the rest of the guys in level G5 - themost restrictive level at the McConnell Unit - have been denied recreationtime. The excuse is that they are short staffed but it is only this section ofthe prison that is getting penalized...
Perspectives at the Death House Door: A Special Hearing on Capital Punishment
Posted on February 15, 2008You are invited to: Perspectives at the Death House Door: A Special Hearing on Capital Punishment Legal experts, elected officials and religious leaders will convene at the State Capitol to discuss the issues surrounding the death penalty including wrongful convictions, lethal injection, the role of religion in the death penalty, and the impact of executions on those closest to the process...
DA Race: Contenders weigh in on death penalty
Posted on February 13, 20082:50 PM | News 8 Austin |DA Race: Contenders weigh in on death penaltyBy: Paul BrownQ: In the past, Travis County has been reluctant to pursue the death penaltyin capital cases. Under your leadership, how will the DA's office approach thedeath penalty?Rosemary Lehmberg: We seldom seek the death penalty in Travis County and Iwill continue that practice...
Dallas Morning News endorses Judge Robert Francis for CCA
Posted on February 12, 2008Today Dallas Morning News endorsed Judge Robert Francis in the March 4 GOP primary for the Place 4 appeals court seat currently held by Judge Paul Womack. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals certainly gets a lot of press ? very little of it good...
Video: ACLU/TMN Panel with Travis County District Attorney Candidates
Posted on February 12, 2008During this 90-minute forum sponsored by Texas Moratorium Network and ACLU-TX, candidates went on record on a range of important issues, including the death penalty, police misconduct, political corruption, juvenile justice, drug laws and other issues...
Nebraska Supreme Court says electrocution unconstitutional
Posted on February 08, 2008Omaha World Herald is reporting that the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled the electric chair, the only method of execution in Nebraska unconstitutional. This means that there will be a moratorium on executions in Nebraska, until the state adopts another procedure to execute inmates...
DA candidate Rick Reed opposes the death penalty
Posted on February 05, 2008I was at a panel last night sponsored by TMN and ACLU-TX with the four DA candidates. Only Rick Reed has said that he will oppose the death penalty as the DA in Travis County. Austin American-Statesman has a very good article about the four candidates position on the death penalty...
A letter from Howard Guidry
Posted on February 02, 2008This is a letter from Howard Guidry that was read today at the Rodney Reed protest in Austin. Rodney Reed is a friend. Rodney Reed is a friend of mine. He is a solid brother who has weathered a decade of racially profiled prosecution...
Karl Chamberlain still has Texas execution date Feb. 21, 2008
Posted on January 29, 2008Dave Maass, who used to work for the San Antonio Current and now is at the Santa Fe Reporter, has an article on Karl Chamberlain in this week's edition of the SFR. Chamberlain is the only person in Texas who currently has a scheduled execution date. All the other scheduled executions in Texas have been stayed pending a decision in the Baze case...
Texas Moratorium Network & ACLU-TX Central TX Chapter
Posted on January 25, 2008Texas Moratorium Network & ACLU-TX Central TX Chapter invite all interested members of the community to a PUBLIC FORUM with CANDIDATES for TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYMonday, February 4th, 6pmat Gene's Po Boys1209 E. 11th St. (at the Rosewood "Y")(parking behind building) There are four candidates* -all in the Democrat primary- running to replace Ronnie Earle, generally a well-received prosecutor, even a hero to some, especially for the Public Integrity Unit's indictment of Tom Delay...
Five Minutes for Rodney Reed!
Posted on January 25, 2008Its been a while since we sent out a "five minutes for Rodney" action alert, but we hope to make alerts much more frequent.We have a march for Rodney coming up in Austin on February 2nd. Rodney needs us to promote this march far and wide- we need a big crowd to send a powerful message to the Court of Criminal Appeals that we want a new trial now! Keep in mind, more publicity not only means a bigger march -- it means that more people get exposed to Rodney and the facts of his case...
Eddie Saenz the progressive choice?
Posted on January 24, 2008Rep. Aaron Pena who single handedly killed the Innocence Commission bill in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee last year is being challenged by Eddie Saenz. Saenz was defeated by Pena in the 2004 Democratic Primary, with Pena winning 64% to Saenz's 35% of the vote...
The Texas Jail Project Blanket Drive, January 2008
Posted on January 23, 2008Cold cells, no blankets. Despite state law, that's the reality for many inmates in Texas county jails, like the seven below. Illness and depression are the results. Help us buy a fellow human being a blanket and send a message: keeping people cold is cruel...
THE MLK HOLIDAY: A DIFFICULT DAY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS?
Posted on January 20, 2008By James C. HarringtonDirector, Texas Civil Rights ProjectAs a civil rights advocate and lawyer, I always find the annual celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday both a good event and a disconcerting one. It is good that the nation has given official recognition to a person of color who lived and gave his life for the cause of justice and equality, seeking to undue centuries of racial oppression...
Travis County DA candidates and the death penalty
Posted on January 17, 2008Last night several different Austin Democratic clubs participated in a combined candidate forum. All four DA candidates were present for questions. Three of the candidates were asked a question related to the death penalty, with exception of Rosemary Lehmberg...
Student Abolition's Dec 07 Podcast - Interview with Gov. George Ryan
Posted on January 16, 2008Stop Executions Podcast is a production of Students Against the Death Penalty, with special thanks to our affiliate, Depaul Students Against the Death Penalty and Elliot Slosar.Part 1Part 2
Mother of Murder Victim Urging Travis County DA Candidates to Support a Moratorium
Posted on January 15, 2008Jeanette became intimately familiar with the many flaws of the Texas criminal justice system after two innocent men, Chris Ochoa and Richard Danziger, were wrongfully convicted of her daughter's murder and spent 12 years in prison. They were exonerated and released in 2001...
This Week: State vs. Reed Film Screening and Fundraiser Party!
Posted on January 14, 2008As we began 2008, all executions in the U.S are on hold. New Jersey recently abolished the death penalty. Here in Texas, were able to win the commutation of Texas death row prisoner Kenneth Foster, Jr. In recent weeks, there has been a lot of media around the case of Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed Rodney's defense has long posited that another suspect in the initial investigation is responsible...
The Death Penalty - Does it Really Deter?
Posted on January 11, 2008One of the most referred-to arguments by proponents of the death penalty is that of deterrence, the idea that when people are executed by the death penalty, other are discouraged from committing crimes that warrant death as a punishment...
Jimmy Fennell to resign after being briefly reinstated
Posted on January 10, 2008Austin American-Statesman is reporting that Jimmy Fennell who was fired by the George Town Police Department, and then reinstated because of the technical error is planning to resign from the police force.Bob Phillips, Fennell's criminal defense attorney, said Fennell plans to send a letter of resignation to the department today...
STATE VS. REED: A SCREENING OF THE AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CASE OF TEXAS DEATH ROW PRISONER RODNEY REED.
Posted on January 10, 2008Directed by Ryan Polomski and Frank Bustoz.This 60 minute film documents the questionable murder conviction of Bastropresident Rodney Reed. Rodney was convicted of killing Stacey Stites on asingle piece of DNA evidence, which was explained by the romanticrelationship the two had...
John G Spirko's death sentence commuted to LWOP
Posted on January 09, 2008Today Tennessee Gov. Ted Strickland commuted death sentence of John G. Spirko to LWOP, short of the clemency request filed by his attorneys. TCASK will probably have some more updates soon. In a statement, the governor said, John Spirko was convicted, by a jury, of a heinous murder...
Huckabee highlights pro-life hypocrisy
Posted on January 04, 2008Mike Huckabee surprised everyone by winning the Republican primary in Iowa. Los Angeles Times has published an op-ed by one of our board members titled, "Huckabee highlights pro-life hypocrisy."Huckabee highlights pro-life hypocrisyThe Times should have highlighted the inconsistencies in the presidential candidate's positions...
Another Texas man freed after 26 years in prison
Posted on January 03, 2008Associates Press is reporting that Charles Chatman has been freed after spending 26 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.Charles Chatman, 47, was released on his recognizance as several of his eight siblings cheered. He was freed on the basis of new DNA testing that lawyers say proves his innocence and adds to Dallas County's nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates...
Holiday Greeting from kenneth Foster aka Haramia KiNassor
Posted on December 30, 2007I just wanted to send out a Universal Greeting to all of you and let you know that I?m thinking of you all and wishing you all a VERY Blessed Holiday Season. I?m as well as can be and am thankful to have this day to share with all of you and keep on pushing in the struggle...
Executing Democracy- A Year After Saddam's Execution
Posted on December 29, 2007Cross posted from DSADP blog.A tragedy occurred in Pakistan yesterday. Benazir Bhutto, the fearless ex-prime minister of Pakistan was assassinated by individuals who have since been linked to Al-Queda. Sadly, this occurred two days prior to the anniversary of yet another assassination...
Dennis Kucinich's position on the Death Penalty
Posted on December 28, 2007Students Against the Death Penalty contacted all of the presidential candidates (Democrats and Republicans) asking for their position on the death penalty. So far only the Dennis Kucinich campaign has responded to our call. Here is the letter we received from him:Like most Americans, I arrived at my position on the death penalty through a process that involved the application of morality and moral principles (derived from my religious and spiritual convictions), personal reflection, and a rational examination of facts and statistics...
Lufkin Daily News calls for abolition of the death penalty
Posted on December 28, 2007Lufkin Daily News has joined the growing list of Texas publications calling for abolition of the death penalty....Not only has the death penalty proven ineffective as a deterrent, it has also proven to be extremely expensive. It costs much less to keep a murderer in prison for life than it does to defend a death penalty throughout an exhaustive appeals process...
8th Annual March to Stop Executions in Houston, Texas
Posted on December 27, 2007Saturday, October 27th, 2007Houston, TexasThe March to Stop Executions has been held each October since 2000 in cooperation with several Texas and national anti-death penalty organizations, including Texas Moratorium Network, the Austin chapter of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Texas Students Against the Death Penalty...
Follow New Jersey, repeal death penalty
Posted on December 27, 2007Thats the title of an op-ed in Houston Chronicle by NCADP's Diann Rust-Tierney and TCADP's Rick Halperin.What do law enforcement officers, prosecutors, crime victims' advocates and both Democratic and Republican state legislators have in common? Recently, all of these groups came together in New Jersey to support legislation to repeal that state's death penalty...
Documentary: Step by Step A Journey of Hope
Posted on December 25, 2007Click play to watch "Step By Step A Journey of Hope" (58 minutes) produced by Micki Dickoff. Journey of Hope...from Violence to Healing is an organization led by murder victim family members joined by death row family members, family members of the executed, the exonerated, and others with stories to tell, that conducts public education speaking tours and addresses alternatives to the death penalty.
A Typical Day on Texas Death Row
Posted on December 23, 2007December 12, 2007by Rob WillSomeone suggested that I chronicle a typical day for me on Texas death row so I figured I?d go ahead and do that today. Perhaps, through detailing the events of an entire day, I can give people a better insight into this environment?...
NY Times: A Pause From Death
Posted on December 23, 2007Thats the title of New York Times recent editorial about the death penalty.The United Nations General Assembly voted on Tuesday for a global moratorium on the death penalty. The resolution was nonbinding; its symbolic weight made barely a ripple in the news ocean of the United States, where governments? right to kill a killer is enshrined in law and custom...
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There are several issues here
1. Sub contractor started up a compe...
Can a person adopt if they are a convicted drug felon?
This is largely dependent on the specific laws in the applicable jurisdiction, a...
What are my rights to privacy under a cohabitation agreement?
Change the locks on your door and offer her a key in exchange for the agreement....
Is a surviving spouse (wife) responsible for the credit card debt that was in their deceased spourse's (husband's) name?
when my father died my mother sent a letter and a copy of a death certificate ( ...
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