The latest courts news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Youth Commission terminated its contract Friday with a psychologist who testified repeatedly in death penalty cases that Hispanic and black men were more likely to be dangerous in the future. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/YouthinHandcuffs.jpg)
Former Williamson County district attorney Ken Anderson this morning entered a closed courthouse room where he faces Michael Morton and an inquiry into how prosecutors secured a wrongful murder conviction against Morton 25 years ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TXT_1318.jpg)
The momentous and long-awaited move was welcomed by the family of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted of killing his three daughters in a 1991 arson fire. He was executed in 2004, and scientists have since discredited the science that was used to cement his arson conviction. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/CameronToddWillingham_Forensic.jpg)
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied a request from former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson to keep him from providing testimony in an investigation of what led to the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Morton-CCR.JPG)
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has asked congressional colleagues to investigate whether federal officials ran a gun-walking program in Texas similar to the controversial and now defunct Fast and Furious operation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e705b861bd9f1ac6a6572cc5fd9fec1d/BD%20INC%20Cornyn%20Border%2003%202011)
A successful challenge to the state's primary business tax would throw lawmakers into special session to try to find enough money to pay for public schools, a lawyer for the state told the Texas Supreme Court today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b7619b535caf929a45793624a2921160/BD%20INC%20Supreme%20Court%2001%202011)
Following a hearing today in federal court in Amarillo, a lawyer for death row inmate Hank Skinner said it will likely be up to the state courts to decide a fight over DNA testing in his case. Skinner is scheduled to be executed Nov. 9. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100120-IMG_2761-2.jpg)
At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, Comptroller Susan Combs talked about the health of the Texas economy, her agency's data breach, her shifting position on abortion and more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLCombs010CMS.jpg)
Michael Morton's legal team responded today to claims from the exonerated man's original prosecutors that they cannot be forced to testify as part of an inquiry into how Morton was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MortonAndMother.jpg)
Mike Davis, one of the original prosecutors in the 1987 murder case against Michael Morton, said in court filings today that he is the victim of a media war between Morton's lawyers and Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley. Full Story
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Comptroller Susan Combs talked about the data breach on her agency's web site that inadvertently exposed the personal information of 3.5 million state employees and retirees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLCombs002CMS.jpg)
Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley this morning announced the appointment of the Texas Attorney General as special prosecutor in the Michael Morton case. A special grand jury is also being formed, he said. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA6390.jpg)
The Williamson County district attorney this afternoon withdrew a motion he had filed seeking to quickly dismiss the Michael Morton case. Morton's attorneys worried that he was attempting to quash investigation of allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Full Story
In the wake of Michael Morton's release from prison last week based on DNA testing that shows someone else killed his wife 25 years ago, defense lawyers are calling for reforms to ensure prosecutors must turn over exculpatory evidence. Full Story
Since abuse scandals rocked the Texas juvenile justice system in 2007, reforms have led to fewer youths in prison and less crime among youths, but a national report issued Tuesday indicates Texas could still do better. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/prisoners_CM.jpg)
Michael Morton, who served 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife Christine, now will be released after DNA evidence linked another man to the crime and to another murder 16 months later. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BradleyMortonDebraSplit.jpg)
The Tribune loves infographics, including the recent one posted by the Perry campaign called “State of Texas Economy.” But like all claims made by a political campaign, it deserves the scrutiny of a fact-checking exercise. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/StateOfEconomyPerryIG.jpg)
How much Texas pays exonerated prisoners depends largely on when they were released and applied for compensation. Changes in the law over the last decade have created vastly different payouts for former prisoners, leaving some feeling doubly wronged. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TXTRIB-TimColeMoney-003.jpg)
The long-standing tradition of allowing death row inmates one last meal of their choosing before they enter the execution chamber ends today, said Brad Livingston, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/whitmire_.jpg)
In Texas, eyewitness misidentifications have accounted for 80 percent of the 44 wrongful convictions overturned through DNA evidence. A new report released Monday urges significant changes in how police lineups are conducted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_Police_MS_2.jpg)