U.S. Supreme Court says that Texas may not Execute Severly Mentally Ill Man
The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 today in the case of Panetti v. Quarterman that Texas may not execute a severely mentally ill man who because of severe mental illness, has a delusional belief as to why the State is executing him. Scott Panetti, who represented himself at trial wearing a purple cowboy costume, believes his execution would be the result of a satanic conspiracy to prevent him from preaching the Gospels of Jesus rather than for murdering his wife’s parents. Reversing a decision by the Fifth Circuit, the Supreme Court held that the lower courts must consider whether a person has a severe mental illness which renders them to rationally understand the reason they are to be put to death.
June 28, 2007
TN Indigent Defense Attorneys Receive Less than Half the Dollars Allocated to the Prosecution
A new report on prosecution and indigent defense funding in Tennessee has uncovered disturbing evidence of a significant and unfair imbalance of financial and other resources between the prosecution and indigent defense functions. The report is the first comprehensive analysis of indigent defense and prosecution resources in the state, and indicates that Tennessee’s indigent defense system is in dire need of reform. The Spangenberg Group, one of the nation's leading experts on state criminal justice systems, authored the new study, which was commissioned by The Tennessee Justice Project.
June 27, 2007
Virginia Circuit Court Judge Overturns Derek Tice Conviction
A Norfolk, Va. Circuit Court Judge this week overturned the conviction of a former Navy man, one of the Norfolk4, who was sentenced to life for a crime he did not commit. Included is a statement from attorneys who represent the Norfolk4.
November 30, 2006
US Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Tennessee Death Row Inmate
In an opinion issued today in the case of House v. Bell, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that Tennessee death row inmate Paul House is entitled to a new hearing in federal court because post-conviction DNA testing invalidated the prosecution’s theory that he raped and then murdered a woman more than 20 years ago.
June 12, 2006
Tennessee Lethal Injection Protocol Challenged
In a petition filed today for a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman challenges the Tennessee Supreme Court’s decision upholding the constitutionality of the Tennessee lethal injection protocol. Abdur’Rahman argues that the protocol, and the use of the drug Pavulon, in particular, is unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment because of the risk that it will result in his suffering inhuman pain at the time of his execution.
February 15, 2006
The Justice Project Supports Clemency Petition Calling on Virginia Governor to Correct Egregious Miscarriage of Justice
Lawyers on behalf of four innocent men - three of whom are serving life sentences for a crime they did not commit - filed a clemency petition with Virginia Governor Mark Warner's office on November 10. No credible evidence links the former Navy men to the rape and murder of Michelle Moore-Bosko of Norfolk. Attorneys from three prominent national law firms who are representing the young men pro bono maintain that prosecutors know that all evidence -- forensic and otherwise -- overwhelmingly exculpates them, and that they should be released from prison.
November 10, 2005
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay, Victim's Family Member Call for Reinvestigation of 1980 Murder Case
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay, joined by a family member of the murder victim, and the surviving victim of a 1980 drive-by shooting, today called upon the St. Louis Circuit City Attorney to reinvestigate a 25-year-old murder case which they believe may have resulted in the execution of an innocent man. The call for the reinvestigation was brought about by the emergence of new evidence which casts serious doubt about the guilt of Larry Griffin who was executed in 1995 for the murder of Quintin Moss.
July 12, 2005
Groundbreaking Study Offers Blueprint for Reform of Texas Criminal Justice System
In March of 2005, Texas Governor Rick Perry established a nine-member Criminal Justice Advisory Council with an array of powers to review issues in the criminal justice system. The Council is charged with advising the Governor on procedures that are needed to meet advances in technology, methods of ensuring that law enforcement investigation procedures are accurate, processes to provide for public safety and confidence in convictions, and changes in law necessary to improve the criminal justice system. This Texas Defender Service study — a comprehensive comparison of the “best practices” recommended by the Illinois Commission on Capital Punishment to existing procedures in Texas — found that Texas does not comply with 80% of the safeguards of the criminal justice system embodied in these model practices that are applicable to Texas. The findings reveal an urgent need for death penalty reform in nine specific areas to reduce the risk of wrongful convictions and arbitrary death sentences. This report, which reveals critical needs and identifies viable solutions, may be considered by the Council as it undertakes its assigned and serious mission.
May 12, 2005
The Justice Project's Statement on President Bush's State of the Union Address
In his State of the Union address on Wednesday, February 2, 2005, President George W. Bush announced that he will support funding for important death penalty reforms that would help prevent wrongful convictions and improve the quality of representation in capital cases. Although The Justice Project is encouraged by this announcement, we urge Congress to work towards fully funding the Innocence Protection Act and the programs specifically outlined in the legislation.
February 3, 2005
KIDS ARE DIFFERENT - 'Evolving Standards of Decency' Resource Kit on the Juvenile Death Penalty
From The Justice Project Education Fund and the American Bar Association Juvenile Justice Center. In January 2004, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision to hear the case of Roper v. Simmons later this year to consider the constitutionality of the death penalty for juvenile offenders. This links to a resource kit that provides more information about a national consensus to ban the practice of executing juvenile offenders, including facts and figures and the latest science on adolescent development.
December 31, 2004
Anti-Crime Legislation Passes Congress
The US Senate today passed by voice vote an amended version of the "Justice for All Act of 2004" (HR 5107). This anti-crime bill includes the "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act" (HR 3214/S 1700) and crime victims' rights legislation. The ame
October 9, 2004
US House of Representatives Passes Major Anti-Crime Legislation
The US House of Representatives today passed a new bill called the "Justice for All Act of 2004" (HR 5107) by a vote of 393 to 14. HR 5107 incorporates the "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act" (HR 3214/S 1700). The bill is expected to move to the Senate floor for a vote before the congressional session adjourns.
October 6, 2004
US House Judiciary Committee Passes Major Crime Legislation
The Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives today passed unanimously a new bill called the “Justice for All Act of 2004” (H.R. 5107), which incorporates the "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act" (H.R. 3214/S. 1700). The bill is expected to move to the House floor for a vote next week — and later straight to the Senate floor.
September 22, 2004
US Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Innocence Protection Act
Statement from John Terzano, Director of the Campaign for Criminal Justice Reform, on the approval of the "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003" (S 1700) by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved the bill today by a vote of 11 to 7.
September 21, 2004
Death Row Exoneree and Rape Survivor Call on Senate to Pass DNA Bill
Kirk Bloodsworth, the first death row inmate exonerated by DNA evidence, and rape survivor, Debbie Smith, have joined forces to urge legislators to pass the Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act, including the Innocence Protection Act (S.1700). In anticipation of the bill being considered for mark-up on Thursday, September 9, the pair will visit Senate offices to show their united support for the legislation.
September 7, 2004
Ryan Matthews, A Juvenile at the Time of His Arrest, Exonerated from Death Row
Today an innocent man who was convicted as a juvenile has been exonerated after spending five years on death row. Prosecutors dropped charges against Ryan Matthews because of evidence that defense attorneys say proves his innocence in the 1997 murder of convenience store clerk Tommy Vanhoose. Last May, DNA tests indicated no link to Ryan and implicated another man already serving a 20-year sentence for a murder that took place near the Vanhoose murder in Bridge City, La. Ryan had just turned 17 when he was arrested for the murder.
August 9, 2004
National Committee on the Right to Counsel Resource Kit
In the landmark case Gideon v. Wainwright, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized the fundamental role that legal representation plays in a fair criminal justice system. In this case, the Justices unanimously concluded that states have a constitutional obligation under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to provide lawyers to people who can't afford them. According to the decision, "[t]he right of an indigent defendant in a criminal trial to have the assistance of counsel is a fundamental right essential to a fair trial, and petitioner's trial and conviction without the assistance of counsel violated the Fourteenth Amendment."
June 22, 2004
