Criminal Law

Houston Chronicle: Texas in Sleazy Clique that Continues Using Death Penalty

Posted on April 06, 2010
The Houston Chronicle editorial board has been critical of the death penalty before and has published editorials that seemed to be moving the position of the paper closer to supporting abolishing the death penalty, but they still have not yet came out clearly for ending the death penalty...

2010 Alternative Spring Break Lobby Day

Posted on April 03, 2010
Texas House Speaker's Committee RoomBy Hooman HedayatiAs part of the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Lobby Day on March 18, I and several students participating in the Anti Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break visited several offices of Texas legislators at the capitol in Austin with information on Hank Skinner...

Report from 2010 Lobby Day During Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Posted on April 03, 2010
Texas House Speaker's Committee RoomBy Hooman HedayatiAs part of the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Lobby Day on March 18, I and several students participating in the Anti Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break visited several offices of Texas legislators at the capitol in Austin with information on Hank Skinner...

2010 SXSW Short: Death's Chaplain

Posted on April 02, 2010
As minister to 95 death row inmates in a Texas penitentiary, Carroll Pickett watched as Billy Wayne White helped with his own execution.Death's Chaplain, Featured at the 2010 SXSW Film and Music Festival. Director Steve Jame.At the Death House Door and Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain

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Public Hearing Scheduled in Sharon Keller Case for June 18 in Austin

Posted on April 01, 2010
A public hearing before the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on the matter of Sharon Keller is set for June 18, 2010 at 9 AM Room 140 of the John H. Reagan State Office Building in Austin, Texas at 105 W. 15th Street. June 18 is a Friday. Here is the notice of the hearing before the Commission:http://www...

Texas on Tuesday executed its 452nd person since 1982, the 213th person since Governor Rick Perry took office in 2000 and the 5th in 2010

Posted on March 31, 2010
Texas on Tuesday executed its 452nd person since 1982, the 213th person since Governor Rick Perry took office in 2000 and the 5th in 2010.From the New York Times:Franklin Dewayne Alix was executed Tuesday evening for fatally shooting a Houston man during a robbery...

ACLU Asks Supreme Court To Review Case Of Innocent Man On Texas' Death Row

Posted on March 31, 2010
ACLU Asks Supreme Court To Review Case Of Innocent Man On Texas' Death RowMax Soffar Never Given Opportunity To Present Evidence Pointing To His InnocenceNEW YORK - March 30 - The American Civil Liberties Union and the Texas Innocence Network (TIN) today petitioned the U...

Call for papers/speakers for the Social Justice and Peace Conference at The University of Texas - Pan American

Posted on March 30, 2010
The 2nd Annual SOCIAL JUSTICE and PEACE CONFERENCE/EXHIBITION?Images/Voices from the Border?MAY 7th - 8th, 2010CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS, ART,POETRY & MUSICPriority Deadline for Submissions are APRIL 5th, 2010The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Criminal Justice is sponsoring an event to promote human rights, social justice and peace...

UT Law School Symposium Apr 9-10: The Direction of Legislative Change and the Prospects for Legislative Abolition of the Death Penalty

Posted on March 30, 2010
From the Courthouse to the StatehouseDate:    Friday, April 9, 2010 & Saturday, April 10, 2010Location:        Eidman Courtroom @ UT LawDescription:     From the Courthouse to the Statehouse: Politics Reshapes Capital PunishmentAudience:        Alumni, Faculty, Staff, Students, Prospective students, PublicSponsor:         William Wayne Justice CenterThe American Death Penalty in the 21st Century:The Direction of Legislative Change and the Prospects for Legislative AbolitionEIDMAN COURTROOMUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF LAWApril 9-10, 2010Friday April 9th10:15 ? 10:30 Welcoming Remarks        Dean Larry Sager, UT School of Law        Jordan Steiker, Professor, UT School of Law10:30 ? 12:00: National Perspective on Recent Developments        Shari Silberstein, Executive Director, Equal Justice USA        Dick Dieter, Executive Director, Death Penalty Information Center        Diann Rust-Tierney, Executive Director, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty        Moderator: Maurie Levin, UT School of Law12:00 ? 1:30: Lunch1:30 ? 3:00: Abolition Achieved : The Experiences in New Mexico, New Jersey, & New York        Shari Silberstein, Executive Director, Equal Justice USA        Viki Elkey, Director, New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty        Jonathan Gradess , Executive Director, New York State Defender's Association        Moderator: Jordan Steiker, UT School of Law3:15 ? 4:30: Study and Reform of the Death Penalty: Maryland & California        Dick Dieter, Executive Director, Death Penalty Information Center        Amy Fusting ? Program Director, Maryland Citizens Against State Executions        Gerald Uelman, Dean, Santa Clara School of Law        Moderator: Jim Marcus, UT School of LawSaturday April 10th8:30 ? 9:45: Reintroduction, Expansion and Administration of the Death Penalty: Georgia, Virginia & Massachusetts        Chris Adams, Law Office of Chris Adams, Atlanta, Georgia        Beth Panilaitis, Executive Director, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty        Renny Cushing, New Hampshire House of Representatives; Executive Director, Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights        Moderator: Rob Owen, UT School of Law9:45 ? 11:00 Abolition Contested: The Experiences in Colorado, Kansas & New Hampshire        Michael Radelet, Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder        Donna Schneweis, State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator, Amnesty International        Renny Cushing, New Hampshire House of Representatives; Executive Director, Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights        Moderator: Jordan Steiker, UT School of Law11:00 ? 12:15: Reform to Redress Race Discrimination: The experience in North Carolina        Rob Owen, Professor, UT School of Law        Ken Rose, Senior Attorney, Center for Death Penalty Litigation        Larry Womble, State Representative, North Carolina              Moderator:       Maurie Levin, UT School of Law

Live From Death Row with Stanley Howard

Posted on March 29, 2010
2010 Anti-Death Penalty Spring Break.Live From Death Row with Stanley Howard, former death row prisoner and torture victim, still imprisoned in Illinois, and contributor to the New Abolitionist."Live From Death Row," featuring the voices of death row prisoners, live from their prison cell...

Videos of Sandrine Ageorges-Skinner on CNN and Natalie Skinner in Huntsville

Posted on March 25, 2010
Video of Sandrine Ageorges-Skinner, wife of Hank Skinner, appearing on CNN's Larry King Live to speak about stay of execution received by Hank Skinner on March 24, 2010.Natalie Skinner, oldest daughter of Hank Skinner, speaking in Huntsville on March 24, 2010...

Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break Students Get Legislators to Write Clemency Letters for Hank Skinner

Posted on March 24, 2010
CNN is reporting that Texas lawmakers have written letters to Rick Perry urging him to stop the execution of Hank Skinner today. Last Thursday, students participating in the Anti Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break visited several offices of Texas legislators in Austin with information on Hank Skinner and asked legislators to write clemency letters for Skinner to Perry...

Call Rick Perry for Stay for Hank Skinner; If No Stay Issued then Attend Protests at Texas Capitol or Huntsville

Posted on March 24, 2010
TEST THE DNA! Texas State Capitol at 5:30 and at the Walls Unit in HuntsvilleWednesday, March 24th, if no stay of execution11th and Congress in AustinSo far, no decision has been issued by the Supreme Court or Governor Perry. Time is running out, and Texas needs to do the right thing and TEST THE DNA!http://www...

Breaking News: Stay of Execution for Hank Skinner

Posted on March 24, 2010
6:30 PM: AP has posted the following: WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has blocked the execution of a Texas man who says DNA testing could clear him of the triple slaying that has sent him to death row. The justices' order Wednesday could allow Hank Skinner access to evidence that he says could demonstrate his innocence...

Pictures From Paris Protest to Save Hank Skinner

Posted on March 24, 2010
Paris today, Place de la Concorde, a few hundred yards away from the US Embassy. Protest against the scheduled execution of Texas death row inmate Henery "Hank" Skinner.

Larry King Live to Focus on Hank Skinner's Case Tonight

Posted on March 24, 2010
A death row inmate scheduled to be executed has one last request: Don't kill me until you test my DNA! He says it will prove his innocence in the murders of three people. His wife talks exclusively to Larry live outside the execution site...

Live Streaming of Protest at Texas Capitol on March 24 if Hank Skinner Does Not Get a Stay

Posted on March 24, 2010
If there is not a stay of execution for Hank Skinner today either from the Supreme Court or by Rick Perry, then there will be a protest in Austin at the Texas Capitol starting at 5:30. Call the governor at 512 463 2000 and urge him to issue a stay.We will be at the Capitol protest with a video camera and attempt to stream video of the protest here...

Statesman Editorial Says Hank Skinner Entitled to Delay for DNA Tests

Posted on March 23, 2010
Please call Gov Perry at (512) 463-2000 and urge him to stop the execution of Hank Skinner on March 24, 2010 by granting a 30-day stay of execution so that DNA evidence can be tested. Call anytime day or night and leave message on voice mail.Austin American-Statesman Editorial Board:If all goes as planned by the state of Texas, tomorrow will be the final sunrise Henry W...

Dallas Morning News Editorial: Hold up Hank Skinner Execution for DNA Tests

Posted on March 23, 2010
Please call Gov Rick Perry at (512) 463-2000 and urge him to stop the execution of Hank Skinner on March 24, 2010 by granting a 30-day stay of execution so that DNA evidence can be tested. Call anytime day or night and leave message on voice mail.Dallas Morning News Editorial Board:The state's determination to execute Hank Skinner tomorrow should make even death-penalty supporters go pale...

Protest the Execution of Hank Skinner March 24th

Posted on March 23, 2010
TEST THE DNA! Texas State Capitol at 5:30Wednesday, March 24th, pending a stay of execution11th and CongressSo far, no decision has been issued by the Supreme Court or Governor Perry. Time is running out, and Texas needs to do the right thing and TEST THE DNA!http://www...

Alternative Spring Break: Learning how to participate in the legislative process

Posted on March 22, 2010
The following is the third and last blog post by James Tate, a student at the University of Texas at Dallas, for the Dallas Morning News. You can also read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series online.It was the final day of the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, and they say that all good things must come to an end...

Write, Fax or Call Governor Rick Perry - Demand a Stay and DNA testing for Hank Skinner

Posted on March 21, 2010
Governor Rick PerryOffice of the GovernorP.O. Box 12428Austin, Texas 78711-2428Fax: 512-463-1849Main number: 512-463-2000Website email contact form/ http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact/or use the online letter signing page set up by the Innocence Project here:http://www...

Opponents of death penalty take protest to the Capitol

Posted on March 20, 2010
The Austin American-Statesman has published the following story by Isadora Vail about the Justice Rally during the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Spring Break. Sandrine Ageorges-Skinner's husband is scheduled to be put to death Wednesday. On Thursday, she came to Austin to join about 100 other people on the Capitol steps to protest the death penalty in Texas...

Radio Interview with Hank Skinner and his Attorney Rob Owen

Posted on March 20, 2010
Texas Matters from Texas Public Radio reports on Hank Skinner case. He is scheduled for execution on March 24, 2010 and maintains his innocence. His request for DNA testing of evidence that could clear him has so far been denied.Click here to listen to the audio, including an interview with Hank Skinner as well as his attorney Rob Owen.

Hank Skinner Press Release: When is enough going to be enough?

Posted on March 20, 2010
PRESS RELEASE ? March 19th, 2010Witness to InnocenceRon Keine ? ronkeine@yahoo.comThe Journey of Hope from Violence to HealingBill Pelke ? bpelke@gci.netWhen is enough going to be enough?Following the press conference at the Capitol in Austin yesterday, six exonerated men from death rows in the USA speak out in support of Hank Skinner?s urgent plea for DNA testing...

Wednesday's Schedule for Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Posted on March 17, 2010
Below is the schedule of events for the second day of the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, Wednesday, March 17. You may come to all the events or just individual sessions. Everyone is welcome. You do not need to register, just show up for the events...

Alternative Spring Break: Lessons in activism

Posted on March 17, 2010
This is the second in a series of blog post by James Tate, a student at the University of Texas at Dallas, for the Dallas Morning News. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he plans to attend law school and pursue a career in international humanitarian law...

Alternative Spring Break: The issue becomes personal

Posted on March 16, 2010
This blog post is written by James Tate, a student at the University of Texas at Dallas, for the Dallas Morning News. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he plans to attend law school and pursue a career in international humanitarian law. He also volunteers for the Innocence Project...

Tuesday's Schedule at Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Posted on March 16, 2010
Below is the schedule of events for the second day of the 2010 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, Tuesday, March 16. You may come to all the events or just individual sessions. Everyone is welcome. You do not need to register, just show up for the events...

"An Inspiration and Ray of Hope": Death Row Exoneree Juan Melendez to Speak at Anti-Death Alternative Spring Break March 15-19 in Austin Texas

Posted on March 12, 2010
Juan Melendez, an innocent man who spent 17 years, eight months and one day on death row in Florida will be one of the speakers at the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break. Juan is attending as a member of Witness to Innocence. Juan will join exonerees Shujaa Graham, Curtis McCarty, Ron Keine, Derrick Jamison and Perry Cobb at alternative spring break to speak with participants about how innocent people can end up on death row...

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