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.
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
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.
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Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on the rise in the state’s unemployment rate, Aguilar on the push to mandate use of an electronic employment verification program, Galbraith on fears about the drought’s impact on lake levels, Grissom on the latest in the Duane Buck case, Hamilton on the possible end of physics (academically speaking), Murphy updates our public employee pay app, Ramsey on David “Mitt” Dewhurst, Ramshaw on Rick Perry’s campaign swing through Virginia and Iowa, Root on the deletion of gubernatorial emails and M. Smith on the teaching of safe sex where you’d least expect it: The best of our best content from Sept. 12-16, 2011.
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Criminal Justice
Mike Leach: The TT Interview
The former Texas Tech football coach on his pending lawsuit against the university, how the state’s doing at educating student athletes and what happens if the Big 12 falls apart.
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Criminal Justice
Supreme Court Grants Last-Minute Stay of Duane Buck Execution
At about 7:40 p.m., the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the execution of Duane Edward Buck. His trial was one of several cases in which a psychologist told jurors that his race made him more dangerous.