Texas Clemency Process Poor, But Good Enough for Government Work

BPP and court deny Tamayo execution reprieve. Last stop, Perry

"...Yeakel on Tuesday afternoon denied a bid by condemned Texas inmate Edgar Tamayo to stay his execution pending an..."

Jan. 22, 2014 News Post by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: “Texas Seven” Member Contests “Law of Parties”

A robbery ended in a police officer death while Patrick Murphy waited outside. Current Texas law holds him responsible.

"...Editor’s Note: After this story went to press, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Patrick Murphy’s request to..."

March 22, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Is Texas Breaking the Law?

State poised to execute another Mexican national

"...If the state of Texas goes through with the planned July 7 execution of..."

June 8, 2011 News Post by Jordan Smith

COVID’s Toll on Texas Inmates Among the Worst in the Nation

LBJ School study details dismal infection, death rates

"...Nine of the approximately 200 inmates in Texas prisons who have died from COVID-19 in recent months..."

Nov. 17, 2020 News Post by Brant Bingamon

Defending the Innocent in Texas

The Texas Center for Actual Innocence is open for business at the UT Law School

"...about how many more Ochoas there might be. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice houses over 126,000 inmates in..."

May 7, 2004 News Feature by Rita Radostitz

For Texas Prisoners, COVID-19 Shouldn’t Be a Death Sentence

Criminal justice advocates warn of outbreaks behind bars

"...was only a matter of time before the coronavirus pandemic became a crisis in the state's prisons. Now, COVID-19..."

May 15, 2020 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

“Texas Seven” Escapee Set for Execution

Inmate challenges original conviction, post-escape "law of parties" verdict

"...for his role in the biggest prison escape in Texas history. For that crime and a murder that followed,..."

Nov. 30, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Texas Drug War Prisoner Will Be Freed

Tyrone Brown: Time Don't Fit the Crime

"...Arguably Texas’ best-known drug war casualty, Tyrone Brown will soon be..."

March 12, 2007 News Post by Jordan Smith

Eyes of World on Texas

"...To the Editor: I appreciated the well-researched and balanced articles by Jordan Smith on James Allridge III's..."

Aug. 30, 2004 Postmarks

Death Watch: Executing Texas' Law of Parties

Jeff Wood never killed anybody; Robert Pruett may not have either. Why does the state want to put them both to death?

"...It's been a slow summer in Texas' death chamber, with executions stayed left and right, state..."

Aug. 12, 2016 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

As Millions Demand Justice, Texas Prepares to Take Rodney Reed's Life

Looking back at a long road of injustice for the death row inmate

"...was sentenced to death in 1998 for the rape and murder of Stacey Stites in Bastrop in a case..."

Nov. 15, 2019 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Nichols Execution: Another Texas death row travesty

Prosecutorial misconduct includes hiding crucial witness

"...the morning of Oct. 13, 1980, 19-year-old Joseph Nichols and 24-year-old Willie Ray Williams entered Joseph's Delicatessen in Houston..."

March 2, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Death Watch: Chris Young Executed

Last-ditch effort to challenge Board of Pardons and Paroles falls short

"...Chris Young was executed Tuesday evening. On Friday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied him clemency, which..."

July 20, 2018 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

No Love for Perkins

Senators rejected her nomination for parole board, but she's back this week trying to get them to change their minds

"...The anti-sex-toy former Burleson banker and big-time Gov. Rick Perry supporter Shanda Perkins' nomination to..."

May 20, 2009 News Post by Jordan Smith

Rodney Reed Clemency Filing Cites Fourth New Witness

Former prison mate says Fennell confessed crime in 2010

"...when they filed an application for clemency with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles...."

Oct. 31, 2019 News Post by Brant Bingamon

Perry Clears Way for Executioner

Perry rejects BPP recommendation to spare Robert Thompson

"...Perry rejected the commutation recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles in the case of Robert Thompson, clearing..."

Nov. 20, 2009 News Post by Jordan Smith

Without Evidence: Executing Frances Newton

Another Texas death row case marked by official carelessness, negligence, and intransigence

"...Unless the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Rick Perry..."

Sept. 9, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Who Killed Father Ryan?

A 1981 Odessa murder haunts crime researchers, the Catholic Church, and an ex-con determined to prove his innocence

"...into the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Boise, Idaho, and readied himself for confession. He never got a chance..."

June 17, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

A Whacked-Out System

Inmate's lawsuit focuses on secret and unreasonable Texas paroles

"...Harris County for stealing – or, specifically under the Texas penal code, for "theft by check." He'd never been..."

March 30, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

No Mercy

The case of James Allridge raises familiar questions about the Texas justice system

"...On August 26, Texas is scheduled to execute James Allridge III for the..."

Aug. 20, 2004 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Pardoned by Satan

If Texas can't kill the insane, where will the madness end?

"...guilty of the charge of capital murder. Steal me and my family's money. My truth will always be my..."

May 28, 2004 News Column by Michael King

In Our Names

The case of Napoleon Beazley shines a spotlight on the Texas system of capital punishment.

"...for an "axis of evil": the United States, Iran, and the Congo...."

May 31, 2002 News Column by Michael King

Death Watch: Lawmakers Ask for Rodney Reed Reprieve

Texas House Criminal Justice Reform Caucus joins celebrities, activists asking to stay the Nov. 20 execution

"...inmate's attorneys filed an application for clemency with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Oct. 30, asking..."

Nov. 8, 2019 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Death Watch: A Mother Set to Die

Melissa Lucio says she didn't kill her daughter and half of the Texas House of Representatives agree

"...begun to repeat back some of what her interrogators demanded she say, though not enough to satisfy them. "I..."

April 8, 2022 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Death Watch: How Much Remorse, Repentance Is Enough?

Family of victim – and killer – wants sentence commuted

"...Quintin Jones is one of many on Texas' death row who grew up in brutal conditions and..."

May 14, 2021 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Rodney Reed Gets Execution Stay, New Hearing

New witnesses, debunked forensic evidence, and DNA testing to be considered in 2020

"...Rodney Reed was to be put to death, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stopped his execution, handing his..."

Nov. 22, 2019 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Capitol Chronicle

A healthy death penalty, the Jenna and Barbara bust, and the Fannie Lou Hamer Project

"...veto, under his declared insistence, against the evidence, that Texas does not now execute the mentally retarded;..."

June 15, 2001 News Column by Michael King

Now Serving ... Time

Robert Conran sat down to dinner at Furr's, and walked out in handcuffs. After four years in prison on a shaky conviction, he's got a chance of parole -- then he faces deportation

"...Robert Conran is standing in the inmate visiting room of the Texas Dept...."

June 29, 2001 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Looking for Mr. Goodbill

A look at what's been filed for the 77th session at the Texas Legislature

"...a mighty host of part-time lawyers, doctors, chiropractors, insurance and real estate salesmen, horse trainers, and dentists descends ceremonially..."

Dec. 29, 2000 News Feature by Michael King

On The Lege

Stopping the Train

"...of the season. Seated in a section of die-hard Texas Tech fans, wearing his brightest red shirt, the House..."

Feb. 12, 1999 News Column

1   2   3   4   5   6     NEXT ›    6 »