While Just Mercy launches with huge fanfare and forums all around the state this month, two Texas innocence cases languish. Despite a dressing down by a federal judge (we recorded it for you) Travis County DA Margaret Moore can’t accept the decision of four judges and several experts in the Rosa Jimenez case. Meanwhile, the Texas parole board is the last hope for Joe Bryan, the Bosque County school principal falsely convicted in 1985 based on erroneous blood-spatter testimony.
Intro
Bail reform not responsible for alleged repeat-offender monkey in Galveston
Top Stories
Marijuana prosecutions in Texas declined by 2/3 since Legislature legalized hemp. Does anybody besides cops and prosecutors miss them? (2:20)
Home Court Disadvantage
- Joe Bryan (6:16): The Court of Criminal Appeals turned down the former school principal, who was the subject of a major New York Times Magazine/Pro Public investigation by Pam Colloff. Now, it’s up to the parole board to free him, if it happens at all.
- Rosa Jimenez (10:10): Four different judges have found her innocent. But Margaret Moore and the Court of Criminal Appeals don’t want her released. Hear audio from a disgruntled federal judge scolding the Travis County DA’s office for their handling of this increasingly high-profile case.
- Trent Taylor (19:02): The Fifth Circuit won’t hold TDCJ responsible for what they deemed deliberate indifference that put Mr. Taylor at risk of serious harm because the courts had never ruled that six days was too long to endure such conditions. Infuriating.
The Last Hurrah (25:49)
- DPS troopers’ high-speed chase policies a poor fit for urban policing.
- Rejecting Reid technique no reason to criticize sex-crimes detective.
- Lege should rein in counties trying not to comply with jail investigations.