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Criminal Law

StandDown Texas Project

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

Post Frequency: 49.3/day

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

Tennesse Lethal Injection Procedure Ruled Constitutional

Posted on February 17, 2011
The Tennessean reports, Tennessee's lethal injection procedures are constitutional, judge rules." It's written by Erin Quinn. A Davidson County judge ruled Wednesday that the state's new lethal injection procedures are sufficient and constitutional. Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman's decision clears the way...

Lisa Falkenberg on the Graves Judicial Connections

Posted on February 17, 2011
Her column in today's Houston Chronicle is, "Maybe judge is just dad's girl." It's must-read, shing a light on small town connections. Here are extended excerpt: Maybe it has nothing to do with the judge being a Republican. Maybe it...

Gov. Perry Enters Fray Over Anthony Graves' Compensation

Posted on February 17, 2011
Today's Houston Chronicle reports, "Perry pledges to help Graves get compensation," by Harvey Rice. Gov. Rick Perry said that Anthony Graves' capital-murder conviction was a "great miscarriage of justice" and pledged to assist in the effort to win the state...

Sign the Petition Calling for Clemency for Tim Adams

Posted on February 17, 2011
You can sign the Change.org petition, from this link, or by clicking on the Take Action box in the right column. Texas is poised to execute Timothy Adams on February 22, 2011, in spite of staunch opposition to his death...

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News Coverage of Adams News Conference

Posted on February 17, 2011
There is more coverage today on yesterday afternoon news conference by faith leaders calling for a commutation of Tim Adams' death sentence. The Texas Tribune report is, "Religious Leaders Advocate for Ex-Veteran's Clemency." It's written by Aziza Musa...

Barbara Jordan Freedom Foundation Program Next Week

Posted on February 16, 2011
The annual Barbara Jordan Forum kicks off next week with an keynote by State Senator Rodney Ellis, and contains some excellent criminal justice programming. Details are in the news release, "Weeklong Tribute to Honor Life and Work of Barbara Jordan...

Two Items From Georgia

Posted on February 16, 2011
There is coverage of two issues in Georgia. A federal district judge, yesterday afternoon, rejected an inmate's petition regarding the state's supply of sodium thiopental, over the issue of the drug's expiration date. Also yesterday, the ful U.S. Court of...

Montana Senate Gives Final OK to Repeal Bill

Posted on February 16, 2011
The AP report is, "Senate gives final passage to death penalty repeal," via the Billings Gazette. The state Senate is sending a bill to repeal Montana's death penalty to the House, where the plan failed two years ago. A day...

West Virginia to Hear Death Penalty Bill

Posted on February 15, 2011
West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports, "House hearing to consider death penalty." It's by Tom Miller. There is video at the link. West Virginia abolished the death penalty nearly 50 years ago but there have been repeated attempts in recent years....

Illinois Exonerees Call on Governor Quinn to Sign Repeal

Posted on February 15, 2011
"Exonerated US death row inmates seek repeal," is the AP report via Comcast NECN. Wrongfully convicted former death row inmates said Monday there's only one way to ensure Illinois never executes an innocent person ? repeal the death penalty. Witness....

A Legislative Update From New Mexico

Posted on February 15, 2011
It appears that the effort to repeal the repeal by New Mexico's new governor is already dead on arrival. Albuquerque Journal columnist John Robertson writes, "Floating in Santa Fe," in his At the Roundhouse column. One no-go for the governor...

Repeal Clears Montana Senate; Final Senate Vote Today

Posted on February 15, 2011
"Montana Senate endorses repeal of death penalty," is the AP report filed by Stephen Dockery, via the Missoulian. It's also available via the Billings Gazette. In a close vote, the state Senate on Monday endorsed a bill to repeal the...

Texas Execution

Posted on February 15, 2011
Texas is scheduled to execute Michael Anthony Hall tonight in Huntsville. It would beTexas' first execution of 2011. It would be the state's 465th execution since 1983; the 226th execution under the administration of Governor Rick Perry. "Execution of killer...

State Comprtoller Rejects Compensation Claim for Anthony Graves

Posted on February 15, 2011
Today's Houston Chronicle reports, "State rejects compensation for wrongly convicted man." It's written by Harvey Rice The Texas Comptroller?s Office has denied compensation to Anthony Graves, who spent 18 years on death row before a special prosecutor determined he was...

Texas Execution

Posted on February 15, 2011
Texas carried out its first execution of 2011, tonight in Huntsville. It was the state's 465th execution since 1983; the 226th execution under the administration of Governor Rick Perry. Michael Graczyk files, "2nd Texas man executed for torture-slaying," for the...

Georgia's Mental Retardation Standard To Receive Further Review

Posted on February 15, 2011
"Judges consider Ga. execution standard," is the title of Greg Bluestein's AP filing, via the Macon Telegraph. The full federal appeals court is set to hear a death penalty case that could impact the fate of condemned inmates on Georgia's...

New Member of Fifth Circuit

Posted on February 15, 2011
Last night the U.S. Senate confirmed James Graves as a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports, "Graves confirmed to 5th Circuit; Miss. justice appointed to serve on federal bench." It's written...

Maryland's Moratorium

Posted on February 14, 2011
The Baltimore Sun carries a lengthy examination of the state's death penalty, "Death penalty moratorium leaves survivors, convicts in limbo; Capital punishment opponents see momentum for repeal." It's by Julie Bykowicz. Maryland is one of 35 states with a capital...

More on the Foreign Drug

Posted on February 14, 2011
The Guardian reports, "Executed man's mother urges ban on exports profiting from death penalty." It's written by Owen Bowcott. The mother of a US death row inmate who was executed with British-supplied drugs is to call for a ban on...

Lawsuit Filed In Georgia Over Foreign Sodium Thiopental

Posted on February 14, 2011
"Ga. inmate's lawsuit claims execution drug expired," is the AP report by Greg Bluestein, via Google News. It's also available via the Los Angeles Times. A death row inmate's federal lawsuit claims Georgia's stockpile of a key lethal injection drug...

Will the Governor Heed a Victim's Family's Plea for Mercy?

Posted on February 12, 2011
That's the title of Columbus Adams' OpEd in today's Austin American-Statesman. It's a must-read. For nine years, my family has been mourning the death of Timothy Adams Jr., my precious baby grandson who was murdered in 2002. Now we are...

More Calls for Clemency in Tim Adams' Case

Posted on February 11, 2011
"Grandparents plead for clemency for grandson's killer -- their son," is the video report on Houston's KHOU-TV. It's reported by Kevin Reece. The parents of a convicted murderer are pleading with the governor and the Texas Board of Pardons and...

Another Drug Manufacturer Seeks to Restrict U.S. Access

Posted on February 11, 2011
Reuters posts, "Novartis moves to stop execution drug reaching US." It's written by Katie Reid. Novartis (NOVN.VX) and its Sandoz unit, maker of a generic version of an anaesthetic used in lethal injections in the United States, have taken steps...

Maryland Lethal Injection Regulations Pulled

Posted on February 11, 2011
"Md.'s halt to executions will continue; lethal-injection drug scarce," is the title of John Wagner's report in today's Washington Post. Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration announced Thursday that it is withdrawing proposed regulations needed for executions to resume in Maryland, effectively...

Judge Fogel and the Death Penalty

Posted on February 11, 2011
That's the title of an editorial in today's New York Times. On Tuesday, Judge Jeremy Fogel of the Federal District Court in northern California toured a new facility at San Quentin State Prison for executing inmates. Five years ago, in...

Montana Repeal Bill Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee

Posted on February 10, 2011
"Legislators advance ban on death penalty in Montana," is the initial AP report via the Missoulian. A proposed ban to the death penalty in Montana is headed to a vote on the Senate floor. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-5...

Connecticut Crime Victims Speak Out for Repeal

Posted on February 10, 2011
Today's Hartford Courant reports, "Victims' Family Members Want Capital Punishment Repealed." It's written by Daniela Altimari. Dozens of murder victims' families have signed a letter calling on lawmakers to repeal the state's death penalty. "In Connecticut, the death penalty is...

From the Public Library of Science Blog

Posted on February 10, 2011
Jessica Wapner writes, "A Prison Doctor, an Execution, and a Resignation," for the PLoS blog. She's a freelance writer focused mainly on biomedical issues. Her work has been published in Scientific American, The New York Times, and other publications...

More on State Appeal to Feds for Lethal Injection Drugs

Posted on February 10, 2011
CNN reports, "13 states ask for federal help on execution drug shortage." It's by Michael Martinez. The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing a request from 13 states on how to acquire an execution drug no longer made in the United...

Forensic Science Commission Seeks AG Ruling

Posted on February 10, 2011
Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Yamil Berard writes, "State forensic panel seeks AG's opinion on scope of its authority." Members of the state's forensic oversight panel are asking the Texas attorney general's office to clarify whether the panel has the authority...

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