Murder Cases Put "Junk Science" in the Spotlight
Michael Morton's tragic wrongful conviction for his wife's murder 25 years ago illustrates the best and worst of science in the courtroom, a judge said on Monday. Full Story
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![Michael Morton stands in a Williamson County courtroom with his attorneys after murder charges against him were officially dropped.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on Rick Perry's Texas Enterprise Fund, Aguliar on the DOJ's Joe Arpaio problem, Galbraith on the uncertainty about Texas' electric grid, Grissom and Schwartz of The New York Times on the latest in the Michael Morton case, Hamilton on the first leg of Perry's Iowa bus tour, Murphy and McLain unveil our new campaign finance database, Ramsey et al. go live with the first round of our 2012 election brackets, Root on a GOP rival's queries about Perry's pension play, M. Smith contrasts the various school finance lawsuits and Tan, Dehn and Murphy on a shortage of mental health professionals: The best of our best content from December 19-23, 2011. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
On the Records: Texas Has Largest Population Growth
The Lone Star State is getting bigger. Texas had the largest population growth of any state between April 2010 and July 2011, according to figures released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Full Story
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Updated: Morton Seeks Inquiry of Former Prosecutor
When Michael Morton is officially cleared of wrongful murder charges on Monday, his lawyers will try to do something unprecedented: They will ask for a special inquiry into former prosecutor Ken Anderson's role in his conviction. Full Story
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![Judge Ken Anderson (l) and Michael Morton (r)]()
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Root's scoop on Rick Perry's working retirement, Aaronson maps poverty in Texas, Aguilar on a voting rights warning shot from the U.S. Attorney General, Galbraith on the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking operations, Grissom on the drop in executions, Hamilton and M. Smith on UT-Austin President Bill Powers' rough year, Murphy and Tan and Dehn on the shortage of psychiatrists and Ramshaw on the federal refusal to exclude operators like Planned Parenthood from family planning programs: The best of our best content from December 12 to 16, 2011. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Dallas Fed President: Indecision Stymies Economy
The engine is primed to rev up the national economy, but businesses aren’t putting the pedal to the metal, Richard W. Fisher, the president and CEO of the Dallas Federal Reserve, said today. Full Story
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![President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas speaks at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce annual Economic Forecast event at the Hilton Hotel in Austin, TX - Dec. 16, 2011]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Executions, Death Sentences Drop in Texas, Nation
Leading a national downward trend in the use of the death penalty, Texas has executed just 13 prisoners so far in 2011, the lowest number in more than a decade. And juries meted out only eight new death sentences. Full Story
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![This gurney is used to perform executions at Terre Haute by lethal injection.]()
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Jana Duty: The Texas Tribune Interview
The Williamson County attorney on how the Michael Morton case inspired her to run against Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, and her concerns that his office could still allow the same mistakes. Full Story
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![Jana Duty, TT interview December 2011.]()
Credit: Justin Dehn -
On the Records: What Are Federal Lawmakers Saying?
The Sunlight Foundation released an update to the interactive Capitol Words on Monday. The application allows users to search and compare words spoken by federal legislators using data from the Congressional Record. Full Story
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New Youth Agency Taking Shape as Two Close
With the closure of two previous youth agencies, lawmakers and advocates hope to see cost savings and better results out of the new Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Full Story
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It's "Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Vote" at Election Time
Voters choose dozens of important state officials without knowing a thing about them. So they rely on other cues — like political affiliations, pleasing names and who knows what else. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Video: Dogs' Evidence Stands as Woman Waits in Prison
The dog-sniffing evidence that led to the conviction of her father for conspiring to commit murder was unreliable enough for him to be released from prison. So why is his daughter, Megan Winfrey, serving a life sentence for the same crime based largely on the same evidence? Full Story
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Dogs' Evidence Stands as Woman Waits in Prison
If the dog-sniffing evidence that led to the conviction of her father for conspiring to commit murder was unreliable enough for him to be released from prison, why is Megan Winfrey still serving a life sentence for the same crime based largely on the same evidence? Full Story
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![Murray Burr (l) and Megan Winfrey]()
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Weekend Insider: Need for Foster Care, Family Accused of Murder
In this episode of Weekend Insider, Claire Cardona explains the rise in the state's need for foster care, and Brandi Grissom introduces us to a family accused of murder. Full Story
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In Deposition, Morton DA Can't Recall Details
Judge Ken Anderson, the former prosecutor who saw to the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton, said during a marathon deposition that he remembered few of the details from the 25-year-old case and that he did nothing wrong. Full Story
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![Judge and former prosecutor Ken Anderson speaks about the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton.]()
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Court: Business Franchise Tax Isn't an Income Tax
The Texas Supreme Court turned back a challenge to the state's primary business tax, saying it doesn't violate a constitutional ban on personal income taxes. Full Story
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Lawyer Group Files Grievances Against Morton Prosecutors
A coalition of lawyers today filed grievances with the State Bar of Texas against former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson, his former assistant Mike Davis and current District Attorney John Bradley. Full Story
![Judge and former prosecutor Ken Anderson speaks about the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton.]()
Credit: Justin Dehn -
Rep. Joe Driver to Get Five Years Probation
The Garland Republican pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to felony abuse-of-office charges after illegally pocketing state travel money. The humbled legislator agreed to five years probation and said he was thankful that the issue was finally resolved. Full Story
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Weekend Insider: John Bradley, Michael Sorrell
In this episode of Weekend Insider, we introduce you to two influential Texans: John Bradley, the Williamson County District Attorney, and Michael Sorrell, the president of Paul Quinn College. Full Story
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A Texas Issue, but Not a National One
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals took some heat off of Gov. Rick Perry when it issued a stay of execution for Hank Skinner this week. And the governor has avoided any link to another case involving two of his appointees and a botched murder prosecution in Williamson County. Full Story
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![Michael Morton sits beside his mother, Patricia Morton, during an emotional press conference in October 2011 after a judge agreed to release him on personal bond after he spent nearly 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife. Recently tested DNA indicates another man committed the 1986 killing.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond
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