Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal Research Blogs -> Legal Dockets Online

Legal Research

: Legal Dockets Online

Could Electronic Case Filing Have Saved Michael Richard's Life? Part II
Dallasnews.com reports: More than 300 members of the Texas bar joined a petition last week asking Judge Keller's court to adopt modern procedures and allow e-mailed filings in death penalty cases. Of course it should.

Electronic filing in life-or-death cases might have avoided Judge Keller's disgraceful decision Sept. 25 in which she refused a condemned man's plea for a 20-minute extension beyond the court's usual 5 p.m. closing. The man, convicted killer Michael Richard, was executed minutes later, despite indications that he had a strong basis for appeal.

His attorneys needed the extra time because computer glitches prevented their making paper copies, as required. Such considerations should never stand in the way of appeal when a life is in the balance. Most states now have e-mail filing provisions, and the Supreme Court of Texas allows them in civil matters.

If the Court of Criminal Appeals hesitates, state lawmakers could force the issue in their 2009 session by inserting an imperative in the Code of Criminal Procedures. It would be a disappointment if things came to that. full story Part I

Full post as published by Legal Dockets Online on October 30, 2007 (boomark / email).