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.
Courts
Stay up to date on Texas courts with in-depth coverage of major rulings, judicial elections, criminal justice, and the judges shaping state law from The Texas Tribune.
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Criminal Justice
Bradley Announces Special Prosecutor in Morton Case
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.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Updated: Bradley Withdraws Motion to Expedite Morton Case
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.
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Criminal Justice
Experts Say Morton Case Shows Justice System Still Needs Reform
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.
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Criminal Justice
National Report: Texas Juvenile Justice Better, but More Investment Needed
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.
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Criminal Justice
Updated: Morton Wins Release From Prison After 25 Years
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.
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Criminal Justice
On the Records: Fact Checking Perry on Texas Economy Claims
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.
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Criminal Justice
Evolving Law Results in Unequal Pay to Exonerated Prisoners
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.
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Criminal Justice
Updated: TDCJ Will End Final Feasts Before Executions
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.
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Criminal Justice
Report: Police Lineup Protocol Can Be Improved
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.