In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you’ll find information about the Texas 2020 Primary Election, including important District Attorney races on the ballot in several counties. We also share exciting news out of Colorado and reminders about upcoming deadlines for the TCADP 2020 Annual Conference on Leap Day in San Antonio.
El Paso
TCADP January 2020 Alert: A new decade for justice
In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you’ll find information on the nation’s first scheduled execution of the year, as well as details on upcoming film releases, the TCADP 2020 Annual Conference, and recent death penalty developments in Texas and nationwide.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturns death sentence of Cesar Fierro, nearly 40 years after his conviction
On December 18, 2019, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) overturned the death sentence of Cesar Fierro, who has spent nearly 40 years on death row. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1980 by an El Paso jury for the shooting death of Nicolas Castanon, a crime he claims he did not […]
State of Texas executes Justen Hall
Last night, November 6, 2019, the State of Texas executed Justen Hall. He was sentenced to death by an El Paso County jury in 2005 for the murder of Melanie Billhartz in 2002. Hall had asked to give up his appeals at several points during his time on death row. More than 30 other individuals have been […]
TCADP November 2018 Alert: An imperfect system
In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you’ll find information about the scheduled execution of Robert Ramos, as well as an update on the case of El Pasoan Robert Avila, whose conviction was based on outdated science and false testimony. You’ll also find details on upcoming events in Houston, Austin, and El Paso and ways to support TCADP as we approach the holiday season.
TCADP July 2016 Alert: 40 years of the “modern” death penalty era
In this edition of our monthly newsletter, you’ll find observations on the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Gregg v. Georgia, as well as a recap of important death penalty developments in the last month. You’ll also find information about scheduled executions and a new report on America’s deadliest prosecutors.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals remands case of El Pasoan Robert Avila based on new science
This week, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued a unanimous opinion remanding the case of Rigoberto “Robert” Avila, Jr. for consideration of the merits of his claim that his conviction was based on outdated science. Avila has spent 15 years on death row. He was sentenced to death in El Paso for the 2000 […]
El Paso Jury Rejects the Death Penalty for Christian Martinez
In the first Texas death penalty trial of 2014, an El Paso County jury has determined that Christian Martinez should spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2011 murders of Amalia Flores, 58, and her daughter Jovana Flores, 20. Ten of the twelve jurors agreed that mitigating evidence warranted a sentence other than death. […]