Texas Schedules One Execution, Tries To Forget Another

Hank Skinner, who resides on death row in Texas, won a case at the U.S. Supreme Court recently.  He got the right to sue, in federal court, for access to DNA evidence he says would exonerate him.  Officials in Gray County, Texas, are in possession of the evidence in question (including vaginal swabs, fingernail scrapings, hairs, and two bloody knives), but have refused to either test it or hand it over for testing.

So, a civil case is now pending in the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division.  But that hasn’t stopped Texas from going ahead and setting an execution date anyway.  Skinner is now scheduled to die on November 9.  His lawyers believe the date has been set as “an effort to put pressure on the federal court to act quickly.”

Why not just let the untested evidence be examined?

Perhaps for the same reason the Texas Attorney General recently ruled that the Texas Forensic Science Commission can’t look at any evidence collected before September 2005.  The Commission had been investigating the bogus fire science used to facilitate the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, which took place in 2004.

Apparently, the best way to avoid errors or mistakes (or worse) in Texas justice is to not look for them.

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26 thoughts on “Texas Schedules One Execution, Tries To Forget Another

  1. This is stupid! Texas is just like pagan Rome, where Christians received very little to no mercy at all! It's STILL a monster in letting murder cases go unsolved by letting the guilty go free or imprisoning them for life while killing the innocent by state-sponsored murder along with the mentally ill and juveniles and ignoring mistakes in cases! And it's all led by a cruel dictator of a governor, Rick Perry, the Emperor Nero of our time! When will this monstrosity in Texas end?! 😡

  2. This is stupid! Texas is just like pagan Rome, where Christians received very little to no mercy at all! It’s STILL a monster in letting murder cases go unsolved by letting the guilty go free or imprisoning them for life while killing the innocent by state-sponsored murder along with the mentally ill and juveniles and ignoring mistakes in cases! And it’s all led by a cruel dictator of a governor, Rick Perry, the Emperor Nero of our time! When will this monstrosity in Texas end?! 😡

  3. Texas don't need to answer to no Soopreem Court. They be doin all the executin they want. Usually poor and underprivilidged, because no use for them anyway.

  4. Texas don’t need to answer to no Soopreem Court. They be doin all the executin they want. Usually poor and underprivilidged, because no use for them anyway.

  5. Skraught, why do you always insult AIUSA? You always worship both God and violence and only support victims' families who support the death penalty while never caring about innocence and never caring about death row inmates or their families! You never care about human rights AT ALL!

  6. Skraught, why do you always insult AIUSA? You always worship both God and violence and only support victims’ families who support the death penalty while never caring about innocence and never caring about death row inmates or their families! You never care about human rights AT ALL!

  7. Although it is true that Texas has fascistic elements,don`t for one moment think it would`nt have happened in IL.OH,AZ or any other state. Judges can lay down the law no matter what and if ur poor,ur screwed. "Social democracy" is only democratic towards the privileged upper classes. Texas has a big old-money WASP community that hold Texas under their iron heel….just like the JAPS in CA. In Texas was also where that punker kid got run over by some local meathead who got a slap on da wrist(`cuz he`s a rich bastard!) and literally got away w/murder. Texas is da place where i will never go. I don`t get along too well in fascist enviroments.

  8. Although it is true that Texas has fascistic elements,don`t for one moment think it would`nt have happened in IL.OH,AZ or any other state. Judges can lay down the law no matter what and if ur poor,ur screwed. “Social democracy” is only democratic towards the privileged upper classes. Texas has a big old-money WASP community that hold Texas under their iron heel….just like the JAPS in CA. In Texas was also where that punker kid got run over by some local meathead who got a slap on da wrist(`cuz he`s a rich bastard!) and literally got away w/murder. Texas is da place where i will never go. I don`t get along too well in fascist enviroments.

  9. **Sigh** another state to cross off my planned road trip (along with Arizona). Way too scared to risk being there, might as well go to DRC or Iran.

  10. **Sigh** another state to cross off my planned road trip (along with Arizona). Way too scared to risk being there, might as well go to DRC or Iran.

  11. "Why not just let the untested evidence be examined?"

    Sillies! If we did that, and exonerated a few dozen innocent people on death row, then that might call into question the validity of the entire system! And good grief, we can't have THAT, now can we?

    Just cover your ears and eyes, good people … move along, nothing to see (or hear) …

  12. “Why not just let the untested evidence be examined?”

    Sillies! If we did that, and exonerated a few dozen innocent people on death row, then that might call into question the validity of the entire system! And good grief, we can’t have THAT, now can we?

    Just cover your ears and eyes, good people … move along, nothing to see (or hear) …

  13. Ummm ….. Skaught is being sarcastic, people. Geez.

    Guess I should make it clear that I was being sarcastic in my “don’t be silly” comment, too.

  14. I agree with Inibrio and to tell Linda to stay out of Ohio, too.
    What kind of people do you think are attracted to work in the judicial systems and prison systems ? Humans who get a thrill and enjoyment out of watching other humans suffer under their control and do it "legally".
    I happened to overhear a conversation of two adolescent boys, and this one boy said to the other, "when I grow up I want to be on a swat team so I can break into people's houses legally". This is the kind of message that get's to the humans who have a propensity for watching other humans suffer under their control.
    When innocent people get into this system,THE POWERS THAT BE, DON'T CARE!
    What do you think will happen when the corporations take over the prison systems? The corporations will have to show a profit every year. So more people will have to be incarcerated. Where are they going to find new inmates? Us, U.S. citizens will have to rotate in to the prison system to continue their Profits each year. I'm leaving this country! This problem is just toooooo biiiiiiig! And by the way, who's going to read this blog ? Do these blogs make any difference?

  15. I agree with Inibrio and to tell Linda to stay out of Ohio, too.
    What kind of people do you think are attracted to work in the judicial systems and prison systems ? Humans who get a thrill and enjoyment out of watching other humans suffer under their control and do it “legally”.
    I happened to overhear a conversation of two adolescent boys, and this one boy said to the other, “when I grow up I want to be on a swat team so I can break into people’s houses legally”. This is the kind of message that get’s to the humans who have a propensity for watching other humans suffer under their control.
    When innocent people get into this system,THE POWERS THAT BE, DON’T CARE!
    What do you think will happen when the corporations take over the prison systems? The corporations will have to show a profit every year. So more people will have to be incarcerated. Where are they going to find new inmates? Us, U.S. citizens will have to rotate in to the prison system to continue their Profits each year. I’m leaving this country! This problem is just toooooo biiiiiiig! And by the way, who’s going to read this blog ? Do these blogs make any difference?

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