John Raley: The TT Interview
John Raley knew that Michael Morton was innocent from the time they met. The Houston civil trial lawyer, who had never taken a criminal case before, spent nearly seven years fighting to see Morton exonerated of his wife's murder and released from prison.
In October, Morton was freed, and his conviction and life sentence have since been overturned. Raley sat down with the Tribune in his office at Raley & Bowick in Houston last week to talk about the long, frustrating fight to obtain DNA testing that ultimately proved Morton's innocence, the lessons he has learned from the tragic ...
Comments (7)
Kelley Masters via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This is a really good interview.
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Bet it happens more often than we would like to admit...
Phillip Baker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Once again, Brandi Grissom has crafted a beautiful story from a great tragedy and injustice. Only when Mike was being released did it suddenly hit me, after almost 24 years, that this could easily have me behind those bars. Debra was my second wife. The first, Linda, died in the early '70s from an extremely rare congenital heart defect, so I already had the history of having a wife die under odd conditions. When John says this could happen to any of us, every reader out there should take that totally to heart. Our criminal justice system, from law enforcement through trials and on through the prison system is terribly, dangerously broken. We are ALL at the mercy of vengeful Da's and courts that can and do trade in the business of convictions, not of truth nor justice. We as decent, caring people must not let this matter just slide into oblivion- again. It is far past time for a top to bottom reform of the entire "justice" system.
Cate Sitton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Great interview. Thanks John Raley for fighting for Michael Morton.
visule
Good interview..I hope this story continues and leads to long overdue reforms..
Schumacher Michael via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hope this story continues and leads to long overdue reforms..
Roddy Pippin
God, bless Mr. Michael Morton!!!!! Those in positions of power which have clearly grossly abused their authority should be held accountable! This is the United States of America and we the people believe in Freedom, Liberty, and Justice for ALL. Our Honorable Courts should not be permitted to suppress evidence and knowingly keep a innocent man in bondage for 25 years for a crime He did Not Commit. Shame on TEXAS and shame on the judicial perverted tyrant's who did this, and who continue to try and worm and weasel their way out of facing the truth and excepting accountability for their sins! May the Lord our God have wrath on the souls of the perverse judicial officials who played a part in breaking the Law by habitually lying in order to hide evidence in which they knew well would reveal the truth and FREE the esteemed Mr. Michael Morton! Congratulations and Bravo to ,Brandi Grissom, for once again having the nerve, courage, experience, and vast intelligence to cover this ongoing plight accurately and objectively! God, Speed to Mr. John Raley and Barry Scheck!!!