Replace the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

[David Van Os]

The State of Texas murdered Todd Willingham, an innocent man, in all our names. Every citizen of Texas should be outraged.

By definition, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals failed to do its job. This should not surprise anyone, coming from the Court of Keller. The Willingham case is but another mark of disgrace against the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in a long series of disgraces.

Every incumbent on the Court of Criminal Appeals whose seat is up in 2010 needs to be replaced. That Court needs a complete makeover. It is a matter of life and death.

What are we going to do about this?

[onestepforward]

1. We could start by contacting local news stations about this.

I don't think it would hurt to contact cable news also. The more publicity this story gets, the better. It will make it much harder for Perry to cover his tracks if more eyes are watching him. I'll start writing some emails tonight.

[sonias]

2. I agree that court failed

It does need to be made a campaign issue. In addition to Perry, that court certainly failed Todd Willingham. I'm sure the whole crew is a "tough on crime" bunch that routinely rule against the accused.

Unfortunately most Texans don't know what that court does. Most people think that the Board of Pardons and Paroles is the final responsible agency.

There's a good map/flowchart of the Texas criminal system here:
http://www.courts.state.tx.us/

And the judicial process here
http://www.courts.state.tx.us/oca/judinfo.asp

Our criminal justice system in Texas has always been bad and it's very broken now. Perry controls too many of the variables. If you pass a law at the Legislature to try to address anything to "fix" our judicial system - Perry will just veto it.

I don't even know who the members on the Court of Appeals are. With the exception of "killer" Keller none of them are very well known. They are elected positions.

http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/court/justices.asp
Place 1 - Presiding Judge Sharon Keller
Place 2 - Judge Lawrence Edward Meyers
Place 3- Judge Tom Price
Place 4- Judge Paul Womack
Place 5- Judge Cheryl Johnson
Place 6- Judge Michael E. Keasler
Place 7-Judge Barbara Parker Hervey
Place 8 - Judge Charles Holcomb
Place 9 - Judge Cathy Cochran

Sonia

[wikard]

3. One great Democrat for CCA

We do have one great Democrat who is trying to bring change to the Court of Criminal Appeals. His name is Keith Hampton and he's been fighting for justice as a criminal defense attorney for 20 years. I'm proud to be his campaign manager. I hope you will support his campaign. Find out more at http://www.hamptonforjudge.com

[sonias]

4. Keith had me at "growing up as a life long Democrat"

Welcome to DU Texas forum wikard!

And thank Keith Hampton for stepping up to run. We need sanity on that court, since Sharon Keller got to keep her job.

:applause:

:dem:


Sonia