Voters in Texas’ largest cities decided on a range of controversial ballot propositions on Tuesday, including measures to build a medical school in Austin and to build a baseball field in El Paso.
Brandi Grissom
Brandi Grissom worked at the Tribune from its launch in 2009 until 2014, rising to the rank of managing editor. In addition to editing duties, Grissom led the Tribune's coverage of criminal justice issues. During her tenure at the Tribune, she was chosen as a 2012 City University of New York Center on Media, Crime and Justice/H.F. Guggenheim Journalism Fellow and was a fellow at the 2012 Journalist Law School at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Grissom, along with Tribune multimedia producer Justin Dehn, received a 2012 regional Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting for work on the case of Megan Winfrey, who was acquitted of murder in February 2013 after the Trib’s coverage brought statewide attention the case. Grissom joined the Tribune after four years at the El Paso Times, where she acted as a one-woman Capitol bureau. Grissom won the Associated Press Managing Editors First-Place Award in 2007 for using the Freedom of Information Act to report stories on a variety of government programs and entities, and the ACLU of Texas named her legislative reporter of the year in 2007 for her immigration reporting. She previously served as managing editor at The Daily Texan and has worked for the Alliance Times-Herald, the Taylor Daily Press, the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung and The Associated Press. A native of Alliance, Neb., she has a degree in history from the University of Texas.
Posted inState Government
Ken Anderson Responds to State Bar’s Ethics Filing
Williamson County State District Judge Ken Anderson argues that time has run out on claims that he violated ethics rules during the 1987 prosecution that led to the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton.
Posted inState Government
Visualization: Executions on Perry’s Watch at 250
The execution of Donnie Lee Roberts Jr., 41, on Wednesday for the 2003 shooting death of a Polk County woman marked the 250th execution during Gov. Rick Perry’s tenure, and the 12th in 2012. The total is the largest — by far — under any recent governor in the United States.
Posted inState Government
Judge in Anderson Inquiry: Testimony Will Be Public
The judge presiding over the court of inquiry of Williamson County State District Judge Ken Anderson denied a request Tuesday to allow Anderson’s lawyer to depose Michael Morton’s lawyers before a Dec. 10 public hearing.
Posted inState Government
Williamson County DA Eyes New Prosecuting Job
Outgoing Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley is being considered to head up the state office that prosecutes crimes in state prisons and juvenile detention facilities.
Posted inState Government
State Bar Seeks Rare Disciplinary Action Against Anderson
The prosecutor who oversaw Michael Morton’s wrongful conviction in 1987 is now facing both civil and criminal legal action and could be disbarred if he is found to have violated professional rules of conduct.
Posted inState Government
Special Prosecutor Will Not Seek Death Penalty in Norwood Case
The special prosecutor in the 1986 murder of Christine Morton has decided not to seek the death penalty in its case against Mark Norwood, a Bastrop resident whose DNA was identified at two similar murder scenes.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Report: Counties Provide Better Juvenile Services
County juvenile probation agencies produce better results for less money than state youth lockups, according to a report by the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. The report also says counties need more funds and oversight.
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State Government
With Tea Party Support, East Texas Republican Takes On House Speaker
State Rep. Bryan Hughes is a fiscal and social conservative who has become a Tea Party favorite in his effort to replace House Speaker Joe Straus. But the East Texan has one trait that is very un-Republican: He’s a trial lawyer.
Posted inState Government
Marking Year of Freedom, Morton Says He’s Blessed
A year after he was released from prison, Michael Morton says he is still enjoying the small blessings of free life. On Thursday, he’s launching a website to aid his efforts to reform Texas laws and make prosecutors more accountable.
