Texas Commutation

An update to the earlier N.Y. Times story on the accomplice sentenced to death - now commuted to life by Gov. Perry - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/us/30cnd-execute.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

No. 207

Another DNA exoneration yesterday, in North Carolina, of Dwayne Allen Dail, a case involving an eyewitness misidentification by a twelve year old victim. The crime scene evidence, thought to have been lost, was located in box in a closet at the police department.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/833.php

Death Penalty for an Accomplice

Not the Killer, but Still Facing a Date With the Executioner - a description of appeals in an upcoming Texas execution of an accomplice whom a jury found had the requisite reckless mental state to be subject to capital punishment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/us/30execute.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

History of Habeas Corpus

By far the best historical account of the common law origins of habeas corpus, in a new draft by Ted White and Paul Halliday in UVA's history department - highly recommended for any interested: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1008252

Post-Conviction DNA Testing in the News

Several recent news stories of interest - they all relate to post-conviction DNA testing:

DNA Exonerated Missouri Defendant Of Rape Charge
Woman Now Says She Lied To Cover Up Extramarital Affair
DA Called Case Outrageous And Apologized To Wrongly Convicted Man
The Associated Press

http://www.kansascity.com/679/story/244253.html

The Advocate (La) August 23, 2007
Took More Than 10 Years Of Trying To Get Post-Conviction DNA Testing
Fear That DNA Has Degenerated Because Of Louisiana DA’s Opposition
Scheck Calls Delays Outrageous
By Adrian Angelette
Advocate staff writer

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/9325657.html?showAll=y&c=y

The Birmingham News July 29, 2007 EDITORIAL
Alabama Needs A Post-Conviction DNA Testing Law
Such Law Can Be The Dividing Line Between Justice And Injustice
Some DAs View Many DNA Test Requests As Challenges To Be Resisted

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1185702815273370.xml&coll=2

The Houston Chronicle August 20, 2007
Special Master Urged For Houston Police Department Crime Lab Review
600 Convictions Involving DNA And Serology Need To Be Reviewed
Mayor, Police Chief, DA Reject Call For Special Master
Some May Think This Rejection Means HPD Is Hiding Something
By Steve McVicker

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5068477.html

AEDPA Opt-In Regulations

Adam Liptak's column this week, titled "Greasing the Wheels on the Machinery of Death" is about new regulations which will soon empower the U.S. Attorney General to certify states as opt-in states, permitting "fast track" federal review of death penalty cases, under very stringent and confusing provisions that we will read mid-way through the course.

http://select.nytimes.com/2007/08/20/us/20bar.html

The Norfolk Four Case

This weekend's NY Times Magazine features an in-depth look at the Norfolk 4 case, titled "What Happened in Norfolk" -

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/magazine/19Norfolk-t.html?ref=magazine

Welcome to Habeas Corpus and Wrongful Convictions, Fall 2007

Our first news story, with the semester beginning soon...

The first DNA exoneration in Washington State -

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003836766_dna15m.html