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Atkins v. Virginia execution intellectual disabilities

State of Texas Executes Robert Ladd

Tonight, the State of Texas carried out its second execution of the year, putting Robert Ladd to death for the 1996 murder of Vicki Ann Garner in Tyler (Smith County).  Late […]

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Panetti severe mental illness U.S. Supreme Court

Attorneys for Scott Panetti appeal to U.S. Supreme Court

Citing trends which demonstrate an emerging consensus against the use of capital punishment against people with severe mental illness, attorneys for Mr. Panetti today filed for a stay of execution at the U.S. Supreme Court, with a petition for a writ of certiorari challenging the constitutionality of Mr. Panetti’s execution. Mr. Panetti was diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder decades before the crime for which he is scheduled to be executed this Wednesday, December 3rd, in Texas.

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execution Panetti severe mental illness

Texas Schedules Execution of Scott Panetti Despite Long History of Severe Mental Illness

Breaking: Today, a state district court announced that Texas has set a December 3, 2014 execution date for Scott Panetti, who has a fixed delusion that Satan, working through the state, is trying […]

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executions TCADP

Texas schedules final executions of the year

In the October 2014 edition of our e-newsletter, you’ll find information about the final executions scheduled to take place in Texas this year, as well as recent death penalty developments and upcoming events.

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incompetency mental illness Panetti U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Must Prevent Execution of Scott Panetti

Attorneys for Scott Panetti, a man with severe mental illness who has spent nearly 20 years on death row in Texas, are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider once again whether he is incompetent to be executed.

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execution U.S. Supreme Court

Retired Judges Support Appeal of Rodney Reed

On July 21, 2014, eight retired federal and state judges petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to accept an appeal from Rodney Reed, who is scheduled to be executed on January 14, 2015. Among them are Royal Ferguson of Texas, a retired federal judge appointed by President Bill Clinton, and Judge Charles Baird, who served eight years on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and four years as a state district judge in Austin.

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TCADP U.S. Supreme Court

Marking 38 Years of the “Modern” Death Penalty Era

Today marks 38 years since the United States Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty and paved the way for the resumption of executions. The Court’s decision in Gregg vs. Georgia on July 2, 1976 found that the new death penalty laws of several states (including Texas) “promised” to make the process fairer and less arbitrary.

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execution lethal injection U.S. Supreme Court

Just In: Challenge to Texas Lethal Injection Secrecy Filed with U.S. Supreme Court re Tonight’s Scheduled Execution

Today, attorneys for Robert James Campbell, who is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CT tonight in Texas, filed a stay motion and an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to address the constitutionality of the secrecy surrounding Texas’ lethal injection drugs, particularly in light of the recent horrific botched execution in Oklahoma. Mr. Campbell seeks information about the source and testing of the drugs Texas plans to use in his lethal injection execution.