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Atkins v. Virginia intellectual disabilities Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Texas death penalty case involving intellectual disabilities

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear two Texas death penalty cases: one involving egregious racial bias (Buck v. Stephens) and the other addressing our state’s unscientific and outdated process for assessing intellectual disabilities in capital cases (Moore v. Texas). The case of Bobby James Moore raises the question of whether modern standards should be used in determining whether he is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for the death penalty.

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Duane Buck U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case of Duane Buck Involving Racial Bias

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in Buck v. Stephens, a Texas death penalty case raising extraordinary issues of racial bias. Duane Buck was condemned to death in 1997 in Harris County after his own trial attorneys inexplicably introduced testimony from a psychologist who stated that Buck was more likely to be dangerous in the future because he is Black.

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Duane Buck racial bias

Case of Duane Buck puts race and the Texas death penalty in the national spotlight

The case of Duane Buck has cast a national spotlight on race and the Texas death penalty for the past month, for good reason: his death sentence is the unconstitutional product of racial discrimination. He was condemned to death after his own trial attorneys inexplicably introduced testimony from a psychologist who stated that Mr. Buck was more likely to be dangerous in the future because he is Black. His case, Buck v. Stephens, is now on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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death penalty Texas

TCADP’s July Alert: No death sentences in Texas in first half of the year

In this edition of our monthly alert, you’ll find commentary on the 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Gregg v. Georgia, which paved the way for the resumption of executions, and the court’s recent ruling in Glossip v. Gross; plus new interactive resources on the death penalty, including our updated county map.

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execution Stay of execution

State of Texas executes Donald Newbury; Supreme Court stays execution of Lester Bower

Last night the State of Texas carried out its third execution of the year, putting Donald Newbury to death for the 2000 murder of Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins.  Newbury was serving […]

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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 […]