Texas continues to lead the nation in using the death penalty. The death penalty system in Texas is broken and puts innocent people at risk of execution.
The TMN PAC has three goals in the 2012 elections: 1) elect a fresh face to the disgraced Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; 2) elect reform-minded voices to the Texas Legislature in order to build a majority in favor of a moratorium on executions and 3) Support progressive, reform-minded candidates for district attorney offices.
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 was charged by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with misconduct and incompetence, but she got off on a technicality. All nine judges on the CCA are Republicans. We will help elect 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.
3) We will support reform-minded candidates for district attorney offices, because DAs play a major role in the process of sending people to death row. If an innocent person goes to death row, much of the blame goes to the DA. We support Charlie Baird for Travis County District Attorney.
