On Saturday, August 5, former Texas Governor Mark White died in Houston at the age of 77. During his time as the 43rd governor of Texas from 1983 to 1987, White was a champion of education reform focusing on the needs of both teachers and students. Though some of his legislation was met with controversy, […]
Category: Mark White
Today, over 100 prominent individuals from Texas and throughout the country, including civil rights leaders, elected officials, former prosecutors and judges, past and present ABA presidents, and clergy representing seven faith denominations, released a statement urging the Harris County District Attorney to provide a new, fair sentencing hearing for Texas death row inmate Duane Buck. […]
Over the last week, there have been a number of editorials and op-eds calling for DNA testing for Hank Skinner, who is scheduled to be executed by the State of Texas next Wednesday, November 9, despite the fact that DNA testing has never been conducted on evidence collected at the crime scene. Here’s an excerpt […]
Today, former judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers, along with current and former elected officials from Texas, delivered a letter to state officials calling on them not to execute Mr. Skinner until that DNA testing can be performed. The letter was sent to Governor Rick Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott and Gray County District Attorney Lynn Switzer.
In an op-ed appearing today in the Dallas Morning News (“Justice demands a review in Texas death penalty case,” June 17, 2011), former Texas Governor Mark White calls for a federal review in the case of Milton Mathis, who is scheduled to be executed by the State of Texas next Tuesday, June 21, 2011, unless […]
Categories
Court of Inquiry Ruling Postponed
On October 14, 2010, State District Judge Charlie Baird convened a court of inquiry into whether Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongfully executed and whether or not state officials committed a crime in how they handled his case prior to the execution.
Rodger Jones, an editorial writer with the Dallas Morning News, is reporting on the Texas Death Penalty Blog that the Texas Forensic Science Commission has not endorsed a final report on the Cameron Todd Willingham investigation but rather has decided to invite a number of experts to attend a special meeting on November 19. Recent […]
Mark White served as the state of Texas’ attorney general from 1979-1983 and as governor from 1983-1987 during which time he oversaw 19 executions. In 2009, the former governor was quoted in both the Houston Chronicle and Dallas Morning News regarding his waning support of the death penalty in light of wrongful executions and a […]