Criminal Law

Festival to feature Death Penalty films

Posted on March 22, 2011
Screenings of two documentaries on the Texas death penalty April 8 will kick off the Rice University portion of the Prison Reform Film Festival 2011.The films, DEATH ROW (1979) and DON'T KILL MY FATHER (2010) will be followed by a discussion panel with Gloria Rubac of the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement; Clarence Brandley, who served a decade on the old death row  before being exonerated and released in 1990, and Dave Atwood of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty...

Day 4: Can't We All Just Get Along?

Posted on March 19, 2011
First posted by Dallas Morning News This blog post is written by Pamela Skjolsvik, a blogger and author currently finishing her first book, Death Becomes Us. A resident of Bedford, she earned a master's degree in 2010 from Goucher College in Maryland...

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

Posted on March 18, 2011
82R12583 MMS-DBy: DuttonH.R. No. 829R E S O L U T I O N       WHEREAS, Six former death row inmates who have beenexonerated of the crime for which they were convicted are visitingthe State Capitol on March 16, 2011, the Day of Innocence, insupport of a moratorium on executions and other related measures;and       WHEREAS, These men are among the 138 individuals who havebeen released from death row since 1973, either because theirconvictions were overturned and they then won acquittal at retrialor had the charges against them dropped, or because they were givenan absolute pardon by the governor based on new evidence of theirinnocence; their lives forever changed by their wrongfulconviction, these six individuals are now working to reform thecriminal justice system; and       WHEREAS, Convicted of murder in Texas in 1981, ClarenceBrandley was just weeks away from his scheduled execution whenevidence of coerced testimony and blatant racism in his first twotrials prompted the FBI to intervene; three years later, thecharges against him were dismissed; Mr...

Day 3: Lobbying, and rallying and marching -- Oh My!

Posted on March 18, 2011
First posted by Dallas Morning News. This blog post is written by Pamela Skjolsvik, a blogger and author currently finishing her first book, Death Becomes Us. A resident of Bedford, she earned a master's degree in 2010 from Goucher College in Maryland...

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Dallas Morning News Editorial to Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Breakers: "never give up in this monumental quest"

Posted on March 17, 2011
Former Bexar County DA Sam Millsap speaking to participantsat the 2011 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring BreakOur 2011 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break is mentioned in an editorial today in the Dallas Morning News:Editorial: Spring-breakers join an anti-death-penalty crusadeIt never would have happened without the curiosity of students...

Day 2: Don't judge a book by its cover

Posted on March 17, 2011
This blog post is written by Pamela Skjolsvik, a blogger and author currently finishing her first book, Death Becomes Us. A resident of Bedford, she earned a master's degree in 2010 from Goucher College in Maryland. Her writing has been included in Creative Nonfiction, the Durango Herald, and in the upcoming Ten Spurs literary journal from the University of North Texas...

Day 1: These young voices will soon be heard

Posted on March 17, 2011
From Dallas Morning News:This blog post is written by Pamela Skjolsvik, a blogger and author currently finishing her first book, Death Becomes Us. A resident of Bedford, she earned a master's degree in 2010 from Goucher College in Maryland. Her writing has been included in Creative Nonfiction, the Durango Herald, and in the upcoming Ten Spurs literary journal from the University of North Texas...

The Daily Texan: This spring break, fight the death penalty

Posted on March 09, 2011
"This spring break, fight the death penalty," is the title of Rachel Fuerst's guest op-ed in Monday's Daily Texan about the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break. Rachel is a graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and an intern with Witness to Innocence...

Register for the 2011 Statewide Texas Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty and "Day of Innocence" - March 16

Posted on March 09, 2011
Did you like what you saw happen in Illinois today?!! Then register for the Texas Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty on March 16 and help us duplicate in Texas what happened in Illinois. It started with a moratorium in Illinois and ended with abolition...

Illinois Abolition: Statement of Murder Victims? Families for Human Rights

Posted on March 09, 2011
Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights congratulates Illinois Governor Quinn on signing into law the recently passed legislation abolishing the state's death penalty.  We applaud the state's decision to redirect funds formerly spent on the death penalty to services for families of homicide victims and training of law enforcement personnel...

Chicago Tribune: Quinn's courageous decision

Posted on March 09, 2011
The following is Chicago Tribune's editorial in response to Gov. Quinn's decision to sign the bill abolishing the death penalty in Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn made history as quietly as possible Wednesday. In a private meeting with a small group of supporters, he signed into law a bill that abolished the death penalty in Illinois...

Statement from Governor Pat Quinn on Abolishing the Death Penalty in Illinois

Posted on March 09, 2011
==========FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 9, 2011STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR PAT QUINN Today I have signed Senate Bill 3539, which abolishes the death penalty in Illinois.For me, this was a difficult decision, quite literally the choice between life and death...

"INCENDIARY the willingham case" WORLD PREMIERE Saturday Austin, March 12th, 4:30 pm

Posted on March 08, 2011
INCENDIARYthe willingham case WORLD PREMIERESaturday March 12th, 4:30 pmThe Paramount Theatre713 Congress AvenueAustin, TexasSOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FILM FESTIVAL OFFICIAL SELECTION 2011Advance tickets available for purchase online here or by phone at (512) 472-5470...

Hank Skinner Wins at Supreme Court Allowing Him to Continue to Seek DNA Testing

Posted on March 07, 2011
Today, Hank Skinner won his Supreme Court case 6-3, so he can continue to seek DNA testing of evidence. At least year's Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, Hank's wife, Sandrine, spoke at a press conference organized by the students participating at spring break...

Todd Willingham's Friend Elizabeth Gilbert to Attend Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Posted on March 07, 2011
Elizabeth Gilbert will attend and speak to students at the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, which is March 14-18, 2011 in Austin (To register for the spring break click here). Elizabeth will attend on Thursday, March 17, when the program includes a screening at the SXSW Film Festival of a new documentary about the Todd Willingham case -  "Incendiary"...

Todd Willingham's Friend Elizabeth Gilbert to Attend Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Posted on March 07, 2011
Elizabeth Gilbert will attend and speak to students at the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, which is March 14-18, 2011 in Austin (To register for the spring break click here). Elizabeth will attend on Thursday, March 17, when the program includes a screening at the SXSW Film Festival of a new documentary about the Todd Willingham case -  "Incendiary"...

Judge Charlie Baird to Speak at Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Posted on March 06, 2011
Judge Charlie Baird will speak at the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break on Monday, March 14, at 7 PM (room to announced). Judge Baird will be on a panel with former Bexar District Attorney Sam Millsap. The Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, running from March 14 to the 18th, is a unique opportunity for people interested in human rights and the death penalty to spend their spring break learning from and working with experts on the death penalty as well as with six former death row exonerees who will be in attendance...

Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break to Use Beluga for Group Messaging

Posted on March 06, 2011
At an event such as the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break March 14-18, with many people from different places coming together for multiple days, it is very useful if the participants can quickly and easily communicate with each other, so we have decided to use the group messaging service Beluga during the Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break...

Register Now for the 2011 Statewide Texas Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty and "Day of Innocence" - Wednesday, March 16

Posted on March 03, 2011
The 2011 Statewide Texas Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty and "Day of Innocence" is Wednesday, March 16. Special guests include death row exonerees Anthony Graves, Clarence Brandley, Ron Keine, Shujaa Graham, Gary Drinkard and Albert Burrell. People from across Texas will come to the Capitol in Austin to advocate for an end to the death penalty and other reforms that would impact the Texas death penalty, including a package of innocence bills, a bill for a moratorium on executions and commission to study the death penalty system, a bill to require separate trials in death penalty cases and a separate bill that would prohibit death sentences for people convicted under the Law of Parties who do not kill anyone...

Six Death Row Exonerees to Attend 2011 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break

Posted on March 01, 2011
Six death row exonerees will speak at the 2011 Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break, which will be held in Austin, Texas from March 14-18, 2011.  The six exonerees spent more than 50 years on death row for crimes they did not commit: Anthony Graves, Clarence Brandley, Shujaa Graham, Ron Keine, Gary Drinkard and Albert Burrell...

Execution Date Set For Mark Stroman

Posted on February 28, 2011
Mark Stroman has received an execution date for July 20, 2011. He is not a sympathetic person, as he committed a hate crime against an Arab man in retaliation for 9-11. Read more about him on his web page. He now realizes that his crime was wrong:I can not tell you that I am an innocent man...

Register for the 2011 Statewide Texas Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty and "Day of Innocence" - March 16

Posted on February 28, 2011
State Rep Harold Dutton at 2005 Lobby DayThe 2011 Statewide Texas Lobby Day Against the Death Penalty and "Day of Innocence" is Wednesday, March 16. Special guests include death row exonerees Anthony Graves, Clarence Brandley, Ron Keine, Shujaa Graham, Gary Drinkard and Albert Burrell...

Execution Watch: Timothy Adams

Posted on February 21, 2011
RADIO PROGRAM PREVIEW EXECUTION WATCHFeb. 22, 2011, Tuesday, 6-7 PM CTListen in Houston: KPFT 90.1 FMLIsten worldwide: www.executionwatch.org > ?Listen," or www.kpft.org > HD1TEXAS PLANS TO EXECUTE:  TIMOTHY ADAMS, 42, condemned in the 2002 shooting death of his infant son in Houston following a standoff with police after his wife threatened to divorce him...

February 22, 2011 is "Texas for Illinois Day" to Repeal the Death Penalty!

Posted on February 19, 2011
Call Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and urge him to sign the bill to end the death penalty.Chicago Office: 312-814-2121. Springfield Office: 217-782-0244Texans are planning to help convince Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to abolish the death penalty in Illinois...

Lobbying at the Capitol with Family of Kenneth Foster Jr for Bill to Require Separate Trials in Capital Trials

Posted on February 17, 2011
Texas Moratorium Network's Scott Cobb and Hooman Hedayati of Witness to Innocence went to the Texas Capitol on Feb 16, 2011 with Lawrence Foster and Kenneth Foster Sr (grandfather and father of Kenneth Foster, Jr) to meet with legislators about a bill to require separate rials in capital cases...

Death Penalty Focus: Student Essay Contest

Posted on February 17, 2011
2nd Annual Essay Contest Sponsored by THE INLAND VALLEY CHAPTER of Death Penalty FocusExecute Justice, Not PeopleWhy California Must Find an Alternative to the Death Penalty?In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute...

Judge Rejects Death Row Prisoner Troy Davis?s Innocence Claim

Posted on August 26, 2010
  A federal judge in Georgia has rejected death row prisoner Troy Anthony Davis?s claims of innocence. Last year the Supreme Court took the unusual step of ordering a district court in Georgia to hold a special evidentiary hearing to consider evidence that surfaced after Davis?s conviction and might establish his innocence...

TROY DAVIS? APPEAL FOR A NEW TRIAL DENIED

Posted on August 25, 2010
On August 24, federal judge William Moore denied Troy Davis' petition for a new trial.Moore was ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court to hold a hearing on Troy's claim of innocence in the murder that sent him to death row. In June, Troy and his lawyers presented convincing evidence of that innocence at the two-day hearing in Savannah, Ga...

Gripping Testimony of a Wife at Husband's Execution

Posted on August 25, 2010
To all of us who knew and loved Bro. Abdullah Tanzel Hameen, may Peace be upon that beautiful Bro.!  Among many other accomplishments, Hameen built an organization, BLAC (Because Love Allows Compassion) and did outreach from behind the walls on behalf of prisoner's rights, working tirelessly to try and make them and their family's lives better...

The Texas Forensic Science Seminar

Posted on August 23, 2010
From Grits for Breakfast: The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' Criminal Justice Integrity Unit is jointly sponsoring a conference/CLE event October 7-8 titled the "Texas Forensic Science Seminar" in the auditorium at the capitol in Austin...

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