death penalty

Supreme Court Denies Duane Buck Appeal

by Brandi Grissom Nov. 7, 2011

The U.S. Supreme Court today denied the appeal of Texas death row inmate Duane Buck, who was seeking a retrial based on race-related testimony given during the sentencing phase of his 1997 trial. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Skinner, Running Out of Time, Awaits DNA Ruling From Skeptical Court

by Brandi Grissom Nov. 6, 2011

Facing a Wednesday execution date, convicted murderer Hank Skinner is again appealing to the state's highest criminal court to allow for new DNA tests he says could exonerate him. But the court previously has ruled against him — twice. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Caleb Bryant Miller / Micah Baldwin / Todd Wiseman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

by Ross Ramsey Nov. 5, 2011

The latest UT/TT Poll on the 2012 race and other issues, Root on Herman Cain's stumble, Ramshaw and Titus on Texas Republicans who don't support Perry, Murphy maps presidential fundraising in Texas, Philpott on changing the constitution for parks and education, Hamilton on a case of higher ed separation anxiety, Grissom on the state's breakup with a death penalty witness, Galbraith on a congressman's search for a big leak, Aguilar on the Border Patrol's effort to operate in environmentally protected areas and Aaronson on a dramatic drop in government employment in Texas: The best of our best content from October 31 to November 4, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Inside Intelligence: On the Issues

by Ross Ramsey Nov. 3, 2011

The insiders answered questions from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll for the second week in a row, this time on the death penalty, education, top issues facing Texas, and whether the people they know would vote for a Mormon candidate with whom they agree on issues. Full Story
Lower Court Denies Skinner DNA Test, Appeal Planned

by Brandi Grissom Nov. 3, 2011

A Gray County District Court today denied DNA testing that death row inmate Hank Skinner has been seeking for a decade. Skinner's lawyers plan to appeal the decision. His execution is scheduled for Wednesday. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant MIller
UT/TT Poll: Mormon Candidates Face Hurdle

by Ross Ramsey Nov. 3, 2011

More than one in five Texas voters say most of the people they know would not vote for a Mormon presidential candidate even if they agreed with him or her on the issues, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
TYC Ends Contract With Doctor Who Gave Race Testimony in Court

by Brandi Grissom Oct. 31, 2011

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
Skinner Lawyer: DNA Decision Likely Up to State Court

by Brandi Grissom Oct. 24, 2011

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

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Experts Say Morton Case Shows Justice System Still Needs Reform

by Brandi Grissom Oct. 9, 2011

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

Credit: Callie Richmond
Updated: Morton Wins Release From Prison After 25 Years

by Brandi Grissom Oct. 3, 2011

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

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: TDCJ Will End Final Feasts Before Executions

by Brandi Grissom Sept. 22, 2011

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

Credit: Austin Chronicle
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

by Evan Smith Sept. 17, 2011

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. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Supreme Court Grants Last-Minute Stay of Duane Buck Execution

by Brandi Grissom Sept. 15, 2011

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. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
With Execution Set for Tonight, Perry Faces Further Scrutiny

by Matt Largey, KUT News Sept. 15, 2011

Tonight, Texas is scheduled to execute its 11th death row inmate this year. As Matt Largey of KUT News reports, controversy surrounding the inmate's case could put the spotlight back on Gov. Rick Perry's death penalty record, which has received national attention in recent weeks. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 97

by Reeve Hamilton Sept. 14, 2011

This week on the TribCast, Ross, Reeve, Brandi and Jay talk about the recent GOP debates, the death penalty and the return of the HPV vaccine controversy. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Pardons Board Denies Clemency in Buck Case

by Brandi Grissom Sept. 13, 2011

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles today voted against recommending clemency for Duane Edward Buck, rejecting the pleas of his lawyers, a victim he shot and a prosecutor who was on the team that sentenced him to death. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Duane Buck Prosecutor Urges Clemency

by Brandi Grissom Sept. 12, 2011

A lawyer who worked on the Harris County District Attorney's prosecution team that sent Duane Edward Buck to death row is calling on state officials to halt the execution schedueld for Thursday and allow for a new sentencing trial in the case. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Guest Column: About Those Cheers for the Death Penalty

by Jim Henson Sept. 9, 2011

One of the oddest moments of the GOP presidential primary debate occurred when the audience burst into applause in response to a recap of Gov. Rick Perry’s record of presiding over 234 executions. Should anyone be surprised by the reaction? Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich / Jacob Villanueva
Video: Sam Bassett: The TT Interview

by Brandi Grissom and Todd Wiseman Sept. 8, 2011

The former chairman of the Forensic Science Commission on why he believes the governor replaced him and why he argues it is critical for the Texas justice system that the commission finish its investigation into the Willingham arson case. Full Story
Forensic Panel Urged to Continue Willingham Arson Probe

by Brandi Grissom Sept. 8, 2011

The Innocence Project is urging the Texas Forensic Science Commission to forge ahead with its investigation of arson cases despite a recent ruling from the state’s top lawyer that seemed to limit the panel’s authority. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Djakhangir Zakhidov / Todd Wiseman