Michael Morton's Conviction Comes to Define Anderson
Growing up in the 1960s, Ken Anderson had admired the great trial lawyers movies: Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird and Spencer Tracy in Inherit the Wind. The good guys who broke down lying thugs on the stand.
“In reality, I don’t see much brilliance in the courtroom,” he wrote in his 1997 book Crime in Texas, Your Complete Guide to the Criminal Justice System. “Trials are won and the truth is exposed because of detailed, painstaking preparation done before the first witness is sworn in.”
In 1985, at age 33, Anderson followed in the tough-on-crime footsteps of ...
Comments (11)
Brady Bragg via Texas Tribune on Facebook
A private citizen would be held accountable for such a monumental action. Government officials and judiciary should also be held accountable. It should happen MORE often than is does.
donald baker
There is no reason why Anderson shouldn't be charged with a felony and go to prison. He stole 25 years of a man's life. State law should be changed to allow that. There are far too many cases of prosicutorial misconduct. Remember Tulia?
Roger Chan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
and the killers who do the unthinkable are often described as that nice quiet neighbor who no one thought could be so devious
Charles A. Siller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Being the Williamson County DA means never having to say you're sorry.
Dina Allan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I agree with Charles. After living in Williamson County for over 20 years I can say that justice is not the focus of this office. Making a statement is...no matter the harm caused.
Allison Holland
whats the definition of the god complex ? and whats that phrase about absolute power ? he liked to change lives. and he had the power to do it. i dont think the statute of limitations should apply because everyday that he knowingly held the information from the court that should be viewed as a new crime. regardless of when the trial itself took place.
Margaret Metcalf via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Oh, the high cost of selfish ambition...most often paid by the innocent. In this case the withholding of evidence caused a man to miss the opportunity of raising his own son..also the guilty has gone unpunished. It is not within Mr. Anderson's power to repay any of that...but it is within the power of this state to see that he now faces the full penalty of the law that he was sworn to uphold.
Richard Canton
Not sure you can suppress something like Don Wood's field notes since they were under subpoena by Morton legal team during the trial. Even the Austin Statesman has quotes from his lawyers talking about Eric witnessing the murder before and after the trial. Morton also told reporters after the trail about this. But Micheal isn't the most truthful person. He told the AG of Texas he signed the check he let Scheck use as proof Anderson withheld evidence in their filings to the first judge. Then he told the AG that he did cash the check in their joint account. Now recently he said he doesn't remember doing this. Just crazy. This is a witch hunt. But at least now it's not 100% one sided and these self serving lawyers and journalists will have to explain why they left important facts out of their articles and court filings for over a year.
veronica lockett
A statute shouldn't matter. You don't know what it's like to be prosecuted and pay the price for a crime you didn't do, until it happens to you. I speak from experience because I'm still paying the price. These over zealous attorneys need to be held responsible for the damage the do. It's not fair this man missed out in his child's life. !
john johns
Personally my recollection of ole J B is not flattering as is this article and this "sitting judge" is a sad joke on real justice. He will get a wrist slap at most. The whole county is a good ole boy haven and has been the last 50 or more years. Real justice has never been in this county, it is an alien concept.
Alyssa Owen
I have know Mr. A for almost my entire life. There is no way he could do this. He has been my mentor and father for years. He had taken me on 7 mission trips including one in Mexico and three in El Salvador. I have seen him spend hours coloring with children or putting them up on his shoulders just I see them smile. He has shaped me to seek a career where I can help people. I am who I am because of him. It kills me to read all these messages bashing a man you don't even know. Just think before you condemn him for something you read in a news article.