Court orders Texas to pay exonerated prisoners

[sonias]

Austin Legal blog AAS 3/4/11
Court orders Texas to pay exonerated prisoners

The Texas Supreme Court today ordered the state comptroller’s office to pay $4.2 million to five wrongfully convicted Texans who spent, in total, 90 years in prison for crimes they did not commit.

Wrongfully convicted Texans may collect $80,000 for every year in prison, but Comptroller Susan Combs’ office ruled that the five men were ineligible for full compensation because each had also been on parole for a prior crime.

But a unanimous Supreme Court said Combs’ office misread the law, passed in 1965 and updated in 2009 to compensate those wrongly accused for the emotional, physical and economic toll of prison.

Being on parole at the time of their wrongful arrest does not disqualify the men from full compensation, the opinion by Justice David Medina said.

:woohoo: :bounce:

For once I can actually say I agree with a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court. :wow:

[hobbit709]

1. How did that happen?

I don't remember the last time they ruled in favor of a noncorporation.

[sonias]

3. Me neither

I would have bet money that they would rule for the state and weasel out of making these payments.

:wow:

[onestepforward]

2. Good!

:hi: