Scheduled Executions
January 26: Rodrigo Hernandez
February 1: Donald Newbury
Respond to each execution by attending a vigil in your community. Learn more at https://tcadp.org/get-involved/stop-executions/
Also, on January 20, 2012, the State of Delaware plans to execute Robert Gattis for the killing of his former girlfriend, Shirley Slay. Please help our colleagues in Delaware by signing a petition calling for clemency for Gattis.
News and Events
TCADP 2012 Annual Conference: Seizing the Momentum… Creating the Climate for Change
Saturday, February 18, 2012, University of the Incarnate Word Sky Room, San Antonio
Please make plans to join us on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in San Antonio for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference. The conference features two workshop sessions, a panel discussion on how the changing demographics in Texas will impact our efforts to abolish the death penalty, and networking opportunities with new and old friends. The annual awards ceremony will take place during the luncheon to celebrate those individuals who inspired us in 2011.
Registration for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference is open. TCADP member, non-member, student, and early-bird rates are available. Prices go up after February 1, 2012.
Register online today! or Download the registration form and mail it in.
Download and share the conference flier.
Advertise in the program to promote your work, congratulate the award winners, and sponsor this annual event. Exhibitor tables are also available. Learn more.
2012 Conference Hotel Information
Hyatt Place San Antonio Airport
7615 Jones Maltsberger Road, San Antonio
A limited number of rooms have been blocked for Friday and Saturday nights at $99 a night. The Hotel will have a free shuttle available to the conference location.
Book by phone at 210-930-2333 and ask for the “Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Group Rate” or go online to www.hyatt.com and use the code “G-TXCL” in the Corporate/Group# field to get the group rate.
Requests for reservations within the block should be made prior to January 30, 2012; after this date rooms will be released for general sale. Learn more and book your room!
All of the conference information, including award winners, is available online at https://tcadp.org/what-we-do/annual-conference/.
Dallas County Judge Rules Death Penalty Unconstitutional, Later Recused
On December 19, 2011, during a pre-trial hearing in the Dallas County capital murder case of Roderick Harris, state District Judge Teresa Hawthorne ruled that Texas’ death penalty statute is unconstitutional, leading to death sentences that are arbitrarily and capriciously sought. This week, prosecutors succeeded in their motion to remove Judge Hawthorne from the case, claiming that her personal bias unduly influenced her decision. Read more.
TCADP 2011 Annual Report
On December 15, 2011, TCADP released its annual report, Texas Death Penalty Developments in 2011: The Year in Review. The report details the continued decline in new death sentences in the last decade and presents information on executions, reduced sentences, and stays; legislative developments; and other issues affecting the nation’s most active death penalty state. Data from the report was featured recently in editorials in the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, as well as an article in the Dallas Observer (among other media coverage).
Read the report. View maps of Texas that depict death sentences by county from 1976-2011 and from 2007-2011.
TCADP will deliver a copy of the report to every legislative office at the State Capitol on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. To volunteer to help with this effort, please contact Kristin at khoule@tcadp.org.
Partners for Justice
Start the new year with a renewed commitment to TCADP! Become a Partner for Justice today by making a recurring, automated monthly or quarterly donation using your credit card or checking account. This secure online giving program allows you to spread out your gift over the course of a year and provides a steady source of financial support for TCADP. Partners receive special recognition at the Annual Conference and in the quarterly newsletter. Visit www.tcadp.org today!
Calendar
January
16: MLK Day Festival and Parade, Austin (Contact Vicki at info@tcadp.org to volunteer.)
16: El Paso Chapter Meeting, 7:00 PM, featuring a screening of the film The Empty Chair: Death Penalty Yes or No, which looks at the subject from the viewpoint of murder victims’ families. It will be shown from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Juan Diego room of Saint Pius Ministry Center. Contact elpaso@tcadp.org for more information.
18: Dallas Chapter Meeting. 7:00pm dallas@tcadp.org
26: Scheduled Execution: Rodrigo Hernandez
26: Houston Chapter Meeting featuring Brandon Dudley, Chief of Staff for Senator Rodney Ellis, 7:00pm. Dominican Sisters Meeting Room , 6501 Almeda Rd., Houston, Texas. Pizza will be served for hungry attendees! For additional information, call 832-693-5710.
30: Last day to book conference hotel at group rate https://tcadp.org/what-we-do/annual-conference/
31: Annual Report Delivery at the Capitol, Austin, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (Contact Kristin at khoule@tcadp.org to volunteer.)
February
1: Last chance to register for the annual conference at the early-bird rates! https://tcadp.org/what-we-do/annual-conference/
1: Scheduled Execution: Donald Newbury
For more information about these events or to volunteer, email info@tcadp.org.
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