The latest Rodney Ellis news from The Texas Tribune.
We're liveblogging this weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's Criminal Justice track, which includes panels on guilt and innocence, juvenile justice, guns, and a one-on-one conversation with Attorney General Greg Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/25/_TTF13-liveblog-track-lead-art.png)
The constitutional provision of a part-time Legislature whose members have full-time jobs back home blurs the line between public responsibilities and personal ambition — as the story of a certain powerful state senator illustrates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/17/Bidness-Carona.jpg)
Take a photographic trip through Sen. John Carona's career in the Texas Legislature, from his swearing in as a freshman House member in 1991 to his chairmanship of the powerful Senate Committee on Business & Commerce. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/17/TxTrib-Carona-slides-002.jpg)
Two days after an advocate for a bill establishing a commission to review wrongful convictions lashed out at a state senator who voiced opposition to the bill, the measure's Senate sponsor says he doesn't have the votes to move the legislation forward. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b6eb639622b9730e249852c98ea1508f/BD%20INC%20Ellis%2001%202011)
A Senate committee hearing turned explosive on Tuesday when the brother of a wrongfully convicted man who died in prison railed against a senator who opposes the creation of an innocence commission. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d50b09bd320d6a5a7cc37f65a950cea/TT%20EVENT%20Legislative%20Session%20Preview%2002%202012)
UPDATED: The legislation authored by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, that would require court approval for most requests to view or copy crime scene photos that show murder victims passed the Senate Monday without debate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/09/CrimeScenePhotos.jpg)
UPDATED: The House on Tuesday endorsed a bill that would create a state panel to investigate wrongful convictions. Similar legislation has been defeated in the past, but this time it has drawn supporters many consider unlikely. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b7519411ce2b36e3b1342db4cb3e8b6/BD%20INC%20Anderson%20420%202013)
UPDATED: Attorney General Greg Abbott is supporting a bill by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, that would require DNA testing of "all biological evidence" in cases where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/19/DNAcmsMCx.jpg)
Texas senators cut their expenses by just 1 percent from August 2010 to 2011 — a total of $101,000. That’s not much compared to more than $1 million they saved in 2010. Use our interactive to find details on senators' 2011 spending. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/53c35a039e8e66557f5aaa781b6a3522/BD%20INC%20Senate%20Spend%202011)
In the wake of Michael Morton's release from prison last week based on DNA testing that shows someone else killed his wife 25 years ago, defense lawyers are calling for reforms to ensure prosecutors must turn over exculpatory evidence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MortonAndMother.jpg)
How much Texas pays exonerated prisoners depends largely on when they were released and applied for compensation. Changes in the law over the last decade have created vastly different payouts for former prisoners, leaving some feeling doubly wronged. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TXTRIB-TimColeMoney-003.jpg)
The Texas Forensic Science Commission’s investigation of the science used to convict Cameron Todd Willingham may be at an end after the state’s top attorney ruled that the panel cannot consider evidence in cases older than 2005. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Abbott_Greg_Willingham.jpg)
As the new chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, Nizam Peerwani will oversee the controversial probe of the arson science that led to the conviction and 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-Peerwani-006.JPG)
In April, Gov. Rick Perry roasted longtime Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, at a raucous fundraiser for the Texas Legislative Internship Program. Watch a clip of the event, emceed by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, here. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Perry-Senfronia.jpg)
Rep. Senfronia Thompson’s almost 40-year House tenure is defined by her defense of the underserved. But her legislative career is peppered with occasional paradoxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ThompsonCollage.jpg)
Senate lawmakers pushed a ban on smoking in public places out of committee this afternoon, sending it to the full upper chamber for a vote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/VerySmokeyCigarette.jpg)
State Sen. Wendy Davis' controversial decision to torpedo the 82nd Legislative session with a filibuster has catapulted the Fort Worth Democrat into the spotlight, which she has seized to try to mobilize the state’s downtrodden and outnumbered Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA0456-mcs.jpg)
The 82nd Texas Legislature’s regular session ends as it started, with lawmakers arguing about a shrunken state budget and redistricting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20110524-_CBM4523-Edit.jpg)
After hitting a brief snag, the bill that creates a mechanism for the leaders in the race to become the state's next tier-one university passed the state Senate today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/IMG_0315.JPG)
In a mixed-bag swipe at "Obamacare," the Texas Senate approved a bill today that would require state agencies to report the costs — and savings — of implementing federal health care reform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MEDICAID_CEDARVIEW.jpg)