John Battaglia shot and killed his two young daughters in 2001. He now has another chance to prove he is mentally incompetent to be executed.
death penalty
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Justices debate definition of intellectual disability in Texas death row case
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared fairly split among party lines in Texas’ latest death penalty case, which focuses on how to define intellectual disability among death row inmates.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Texas death penalty challenge
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding intellectual disability and executions in Moore v. Texas.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Republicans sweep Texas Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals races
Republicans running in three Texas Supreme Court races and three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals races enjoyed strong victories on Tuesday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Most embrace some reforms in Court of Criminal Appeals races
Almost all of the candidates for the state’s highest criminal court agree the justice system should change how it handles drug cases and mental illness.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Will See Lowest Number of Executions in 20 Years
At most, Texas will have executed eight men by the close of 2016, the lowest number since 1996.
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Criminal Justice
Execution of Man Who Killed Neighbors is State’s First in Months
Barney Fuller’s execution Wednesday for the 2003 shooting deaths in rural East Texas ended Texas’ longest gap between executions since 2008.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
U.S. Supreme Court Seems Receptive to Death Case Appeal
A psychologist testified at Duane Buck’s trial that blacks are more dangerous than whites. Buck wants a new sentencing trial.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Death Row Appeal Hinges on Racial Testimony
The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday will hear an appeal from death row inmate Duane Buck, whose trial included racially discriminatory testimony.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Sees an Unusual Lull in Executions
It’s been more than five months since the last execution in Texas, an unusual gap for the nation’s most prolific death penalty state.
