May 18, 2010

Did Arizona jump-start the national debate on immigration?

Unless you have been on vacation for the last month or so, you know about the law Arizona recently passed making it illegal to be in the United States illegally. Most people assume that is already a crime. After all, you commonly refer to people in the United States without permission as "being ...

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March 25, 2010

Skinner update

Good news for Hank Skinner came yesterday from an unlikely source -- the Supreme Court. The ruling had nothing to do with the merits of Skinner's conviction. Instead it came out of a civil rights suit that had been filed to force the state to allow DNA testing. Last year the Supreme ...

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March 23, 2010

Split personality?

Another executions is scheduled this week - Hank Skinner. Though many people don't know the details of his case, it is generating discussion across the world. The controversy is over the court's refusal to allow DNA testing on evidence that his lawyer's claim would prove his innocence. I don't ...

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March 10, 2010

Death penalty update

I previously told you about Judge Fine’s ruling which held part of the death penalty statute unconstitutional. He recently reconsidered that order, and withdrew it. It doesn’t mean he changed his mind – just that he wants more information before he makes such an important decision. ...

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March 08, 2010

The order heard around the world

Last week a District judge in Houston - Kevin Fine - made a ruling that was literally heard around the world; he declared part of the Texas death penalty statute unconstitutional. As you can imagine, the criticism was instant and predictable. The Texas Attorney General called it "unabashed judicial ...

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January 25, 2010

The truth about criminal appeals

Now that Matt Baker's trial is over the focus will switch to his appeal. Most people have unrealistic expectations about appeals, and don't understand what really happens. Many people believe a defendant's chances on appeal are far better than they really are. The biggest misconception people ...

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January 20, 2010

Keeping your mouth shut - why isn't it a crime

If you are reading this blog then you are probably following the Matt Baker trial. Yesterday there was testimony that his mistress knew about his plan to kill his wife, and didn't report it. I'm not commenting on whether that is true or not - it is up to the jury to decide that. What I do want to ...

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September 17, 2009

Should you get more than one bite at the apple

Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. Yesterday Ohio tried to execute Romell Broom. Like Texas, Ohio uses the lethal injection to carry out executions. Naturally, that requires injections, which requires needles and veins. Mr. Broom's veins are not in the best of shape, and they had trouble ...

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September 14, 2009

Will fingerprints become obsolete?

The Senate Judiciary committee held a hearing last week on forensics in the criminal justice system. The focus was mainly on what to with the recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences in their recent report. One of the witnesses was the city of Houston's chief of police. In answering ...

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September 03, 2009

The cost of incarcerating the elderly

The managed health care committee for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is scheduled to meet next week in Dallas. Thanks to Grits for Breakfast, I was able to learn a few details of what ...

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