Wednesday night’s execution in Texas of a Mexican national convicted of killing a Houston police officer has given the candidates vying to be the state’s next attorney general an opportunity to weigh in on the death penalty.
death penalty
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Considering Toll of War in a Death Penalty Debate
Lawyers for Iraq War veteran John Thuesen are appealing the former Marine’s death sentence for a double murder, arguing that his original trial lawyers didn’t adequately explain the post-traumatic stress that Thuesen had suffered.
Posted in
Year in Review 2013
Year in Review: Criminal Justice
Fallout from the high-profile Michael Morton exoneration along with more prison closures and growing concerns about the mentally ill in Texas prisons dominated criminal justice headlines in 2013.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
High Court May Answer Question on Impairment and Death Penalty
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of a Florida death row inmate — who claims he does not have the mental capacity to face execution — could provide more guidance to states like Texas.
Posted in
University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
UT/TT Poll: Texans Don’t Trust Big Institutions When it Comes to Privacy
Texans show little faith in big institutions when it comes to privacy rights, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
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Criminal Justice
Court Orders New Mental Competency Hearing in Death Penalty Case
UPDATED: The Court of Criminal Appeals has ordered a new hearing in the case of Marcus Druery to determine whether he is mentally competent to be executed.
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Criminal Justice
Case Shows How Time Affects Pursuit of Justice
A family is fighting to keep jailed the man suspected in their relatives’ deaths, while he pursues a chance to become eligible for parole.
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Energy
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
M. Smith drops in on state textbook hearings, E. Smith interviews Tom Pauken, Satija on water rationing along the Colorado River, Root probes Dan Patrick’s unexpected investment, KUT’s Philpott sorts out clinic closings, Murphy maps the latest census data, MacLaggan on a welcome turn in poverty, Malewitz finds a race for energy efficiency, Hamilton reports on better grades for Sul Ross, Grissom on bad grades for the death penalty, Batheja on Debra Medina’s dilemma, Aguilar on the glum forecast for immigration reform and Aaronson looks at the latest hurdle for Obamacare: The best of our best for the week of Sept. 16-20, 2013.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Bar Association: Death Penalty System Falls Short
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.
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.
