This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Ayesta v. Davis. Carlos Ayestas is a Honduran national who was sentenced to death in Harris County in 1997 for his role in the 1995 murder of 67-year-old Santiaga Paneque during an apparent robbery. During his original trial, Ayestas’ attorneys failed to […]
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court rules 5-4 in Davila v. Davis
Yesterday, June 19, 2017, on the final day of its October 2016 term, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in Davila v. Davis, a Texas death penalty case. The Justices ruled 5-4 against Davila, finding that the Constitution does not guarantee the right to counsel in post-conviction proceedings, let alone effective assistance of counsel. According […]
Death sentences reduced to life due to intellectual disabilities
Two men have been removed from death row in Texas in recent weeks based on evidence of their intellectual disabilities. The commutations stem from the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Moore v. Texas, which requires the state to use current medical standards in assessing intellectual disabilities.
TCADP May 2017 Alert: Catch up on the latest death penalty news
In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you’ll find information about the two executions scheduled to occur in Texas in May, updates from the 85th Texas Legislature, and links to important information on the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing of Davila v. Davis.
U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Texas death penalty case of Carlos Ayestas
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider the case of Carlos Ayestas, a Honduran national who was sentenced to death in Harris County, Texas in 1997. This is the third death penalty case out of Harris County to be granted cert by the Justices in the last year. See the statement from Ayestas’ attorneys […]
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