Despite recent improvements that aim to prevent wrongful convictions, an American Bar Association report released Wednesday says much work remains to ensure fairness in the application of the death penalty in Texas.
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 in
Politics
One-Third of Criminal Appeals Court Leaving
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judges Cathy Cochran, Tom Price and Paul Womack confirmed that they will not run for re-election in 2014. The news sets the stage for the court’s biggest change in recent memory.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Court: Inmate Can’t Be Forcibly Medicated Ahead of Execution
In a ruling issued Wednesday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declared that Steven Staley, a mentally ill death row inmate, cannot be forcibly medicated for the purpose of making him competent for execution.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
New Law Gives New Hope to Death Row Inmate
Convicted of stomping a 19-month-old baby to death, Robert Avila faces execution in January. Under a law passed this year, Avila hopes to bring to court new scientific evidence that may show the death could have been a tragic accident.
Posted inState Government
Court Orders New Trial for Dennis Davis
UPDATED: A Texas appeals court on Friday ordered a new trial for Dennis Davis, who is serving 36 years in prison for the 1985 murder of Natalie Antonetti of Austin.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Skinner’s Lawyer, AG Disagree Over DNA Results
Lawyers for Hank Skinner say new DNA tests show someone else likely committed the crime for which he was convicted and sentenced to death. But state prosecutors argue the tests show even more links between Skinner and the three victims.
Posted in
Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: More GOP Primary Predictions
This week, we asked our insiders who they think the early front-runners are to win the primaries in the big-ticket statewide races in 2014. The big surprise: In the race for lieutenant governor, the incumbent ranked last.
Posted in
State Government
Exoneree, Still in Prison, Denied Compensation
UPDATED: The Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion Friday denying compensation to Michael Blair, who was exonerated of murder charges in 2008, but is still serving time in prison for child sexual assault convictions.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Will Federal Moves Spur Criminal Justice Change?
Texas has led the way in criminal justice reforms, but advocates say there’s more to do. They’re hoping that federal action to reform sentencing laws will provide momentum for further changes here.
Posted inState Government
Inside Intelligence: Predicting GOP Primaries in Statewide Races
For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the GOP primary races for comptroller, railroad commissioner, agriculture commissioner and land commissioner.
