Texas continues to lead the nation in using the death penalty, carrying out 62 percent of executions nationwide in 2007. Overall, 86 percent of all U.S. executions in 2007 were in the South. It is time to turn the page on this legacy of the Old South. The death penalty system in Texas is broken and puts innocent people at risk of execution.

The TMN PAC has two goals in the 2010 elections: 1) elect a fresh face to the disgraced Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and 2) elect reform-minded voices to the Texas Legislature in order to build a majority in favor of a moratorium on executions.

1) The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has been called the “worst court in Texas” by Texas Monthly. Sharon Keller has brought the current court into even more disrepute by saying “We close at 5” and refusing to accept an appeal from a man on the day of his execution. TMN filed a complaint against Keller in 2007. She has been charged by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with misconduct and incompetence.  All nine judges on the CCA are Republicans. We will help elect Democratic nominee Keith Hampton to the Court. It is not in the interest of Justice to have all the judges on the state’s highest criminal appeals court from one party.

2) We will support reform-minded candidates for the Texas Legislature in order to ensure a majority that will enact a moratorium on executions.