Burnt Orange: Finally, A Well-Qualified Democrat Announces for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

[Heidi]

Finally, A Well-Qualified Democrat Announces for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 03:44 AM CST

A few months ago, I wrote a post on BOR asking "Where are the Democratic candidates challenging the incumbents on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals who are running for re-election in 2010?" Now, we have an answer. Keith Hampton has announced he is running for the Democratic nomination for Place 6 on the CCA.

The CCA may very well have allowed innocent people to be executed, including Todd Willingham. It is the all-Republican court that one of its own current members says became a national laughingstock years before Sharon Keller said "we close at 5". Keller, its presiding judge, is charged with incompetence and misconduct and could be removed from office before she faces re-election in 2012.

The three incumbents on the CCA up for re-election in 2010 are: Lawrence Meyers, Michael Keasler and Cheryl Johnson. At least one of those three judges will receive a strong challenger in next year's election. Keith Hampton, who was the lawyer who convinced the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Perry to commute the death sentence of Kenneth Foster, Jr to life in prison, is running for Place 6 on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The seat is currently held by Michael Keasler, one of the most conservative members of the court. Grits for Breakfast has said, "There is no liberal wing on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. There's a conservative wing, to which Judge Johnson belongs, and a more or less totalitarian wing, in which Keasler and Meyers reside along with Presiding Judge Sharon Keller."

<snip>

Now, we need other Democrats to step up and run for the other seats on the CCA, especially the seat currently held by Lawrence Meyers.

Meyers made a laughable, dishonest claim that the CCA has a reputation for fairness in his re-election annoucement. "I am seeking re-election to the Court to continue to be an objective voice and ensure that we maintain our reputation for delivering fair and just opinions," said Meyers in announcing his candidacy for re-election. Tell that to the family of Todd Willingham, whose last appeal based on actual innocence was denied on the day he was executed, "We have reviewed the subsequent application for habeas relief and find that it does not meet the requirements for consideration under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 11.071, § 5 as a claim of newly discovered evidence of actual innocence."

The Dallas Morning News blog said "try not to laugh" at Meyers' claim that the CCA has a reputation for fairness. Meyers deserves an opponent.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/9598/finally-a-wellqualified-democrat-announces-for-the-texas-court-of-criminal-appeals">Read more

[TexasObserver]

1. Recommend. Even many Texans don't realize the Ct of Crim Appeals hears death cases ....

... and all criminal appeals, not the Texas Supreme Court, which works exclusively for doctors, hospitals, banks, and insurance companies ... I mean, handles civil matters.

[Heidi]

2. !

Hahahahahahahaha!

Texas Supreme Court, which works exclusively for doctors, hospitals, banks, and insurance companies ... I mean, handles civil matters.

Mornin', Texas! :hi:

[TexasObserver]

3. Yes, it's so thoroughly owned by special interests.

Mornin' Switzerland!

[Heidi]

4. Do you think a Dem has a chance of getting on the CCA?

And when does Keller come up, assuming she doesn't get thrown off the bench?

[TexasObserver]

5. It's difficult for a Democrat to win statewide in a non presidential election.

When the state flipped in 1994, it quickly became dominated by the GOP. In non presidential elections, Democrats can't turn out the vote like the GOP can. Given the conservatism of rural Texas and cities such as Abilene, Wichita Falls, Amarillo, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Tyler and Longview, it's going to be hard to regain for the party statewide offices.

It's especially hard on down ballot races, because we lose so many of our straight party voters in mid term elections, and the GOP doesn't.

Our biggest problem is the other side turns out better than our side.

[Heidi]

6. Liberals and progressives in Texas (and I _know_ they exist -- many are DUers) have GOT

to be gettin' tired of the blood lust, not to mention the malfeasance. Do the resources not exist to organize blue Texans?