Last night, November 16, 2022, the State of Texas executed Stephen Barbee despite the violation of his constitutional right to a fair trial that occurred when his lawyers unexpectedly and impermissibly conceded his guilt to the jury despite Barbee’s insistence on his innocence. The execution took longer than unusual because of Barbee’s physical disabilities, a concern […]
Category: U.S. Supreme Court
In this edition Scheduled executions: Ramiro Gonzales, facing execution on July 13, seeks clemency; judge rejects motion to withdraw execution date for John Ramirez In case you missed it: U.S. Supreme Court refuses to grant relief to Terence Andrus, despite its own ruling in the Texas death penalty case two years ago; Tarrant County jury rejects the […]
Today, June 29, 2022, marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Furman vs. Georgia (1972), which overturned all existing death penalty laws in effect at the time. In Furman, the Justices ruled that the death penalty system, as it was being administered, was arbitrary, capricious, and discriminatory. Justice Potter Stewart said death sentences were as […]
In this edition Scheduled executions: Texas Attorney General’s Office opposes date withdrawal for John Ramirez; Harris County judge declines to set an execution date for Arthur Brown In case you missed it: U.S. Supreme Court guts federal review of cases involving poor legal representation; Amnesty International reports on use of the death penalty worldwide; Texas Court […]
In this edition Scheduled executions: State of Texas carries out its first execution in more than six months; Texas Court of Criminal Appeals grants a stay to Melissa Lucio In case you missed it: Nueces County District Attorney calls the death penalty “unethical”; forensic science reformers and exonerees file briefs in support of Robert Roberson; […]
In this edition Scheduled executions: Texas set to execute a 78-year-old man and a wrongfully convicted woman this month In case you missed it: Texas court overturns conviction and death sentence of Joseph Colone; Tarrant County prosecutors remove death penalty as a punishment option on the eve of trial; U.S. Supreme Court upholds the religious […]
In this edition Scheduled executions: No executions set in Texas for January or February TCADP 2022 Annual Conference: Don’t miss keynote speaker, Sister Helen Prejean! In case you missed it: Death penalty developments in 2021; a radio station at the Polunsky Unit; new filing for Rodney Reed; important commentary on two Texas death penalty cases […]
Update, 9/29/21: The State of Texas executed Rick Rhoades last night after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to issue a stay. Rhoades’ attorneys had sought juror information that might have called into question the fairness of his 1992 trial. Rhoades is the third person put to death in Texas this year. Four more executions are […]