Today, March 19, 2020, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (“CCA”) granted a 60-day stay of execution to Tracy Beatty due to the global pandemic. Beatty was scheduled to be executed on March 25, 2020. Five years ago, he received a stay from the CCA after his attorneys argued Beatty received deficient legal help at his 2004 trial and during early appeals. They also argued prosecutors used improper testimony at his trial. Beatty was convicted of killing his 62-year-old mother, Carolyn Click, in Smith County in 2003.
It was the second stay of execution granted by the CCA this week. The Smith County District Attorney’s Office opposed Beatty’s motion for a stay, as did the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office in the case of John Hummel.
There are still seven executions scheduled in Texas from April through September; this week, Nueces County secured an execution date of September 9 for John Ramirez.