criminal justice

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Oct. 22, 2011

Hamilton on efforts to boost faculty productivity, Grissom on newly uncovered evidence in an old murder case, Galbraith on a wind-powered construction boom, Dehn unfurls the new Texas Tribune Weekend Insider, Aguilar on this year's record number of deportations, Ramshaw and Tan on budget cuts and cervical cancer screenings, M. Smith on local control over student grades, Root and Ramshaw on Rick Perry's latest debate performance, Philpott on an issue that didn't get its due in that debate and Titus and Murphy on fundraising and spending in congressional races: The best of our best content from October 17 to 21, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Morton Lawyers: Former DAs' Claims "Wholly Deficient"

By Morgan Smith Oct. 21, 2011

Michael Morton's legal team responded today to claims from the exonerated man's original prosecutors that they cannot be forced to testify as part of an inquiry into how Morton was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
From Botched Morton Case, Hope Emerges in Cold Murder Inquiry

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 21, 2011

Jesse and Caitlin Baker recently learned of the most dramatic development in the mystery of their mother's murder in nearly two decades of probing for clues. The DNA discovery has prompted new hopes for long-awaited answers. Full Story

Credit: Axel Gerdau
Morton Prosecutor Says He's Victim of Media War

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 20, 2011

Mike Davis, one of the original prosecutors in the 1987 murder case against Michael Morton, said in court filings today that he is the victim of a media war between Morton's lawyers and Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
TribLive: Combs on the Data Breach

By Evan Smith Oct. 20, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, Comptroller Susan Combs talked about the data breach on her agency's web site that inadvertently exposed the personal information of 3.5 million state employees and retirees. Full Story
Bradley Announces Special Prosecutor in Morton Case

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 17, 2011

Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley this morning announced the appointment of the Texas Attorney General as special prosecutor in the Michael Morton case. A special grand jury is also being formed, he said. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Updated: Bradley Withdraws Motion to Expedite Morton Case

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 13, 2011

The Williamson County district attorney this afternoon withdrew a motion he had filed seeking to quickly dismiss the Michael Morton case. Morton's attorneys worried that he was attempting to quash investigation of allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
Experts Say Morton Case Shows Justice System Still Needs Reform

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 9, 2011

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

Credit: Callie Richmond
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Oct. 8, 2011

Murphy, Ramshaw and Root on Rick Perry and race, Philpott on Perry's vague economic plans, Tan and Wiseman on Barack Obama's foray into Texas to defend his jobs plan, Aguilar on Perry's proposal to send U.S. troops to Mexico, Ramshaw on efforts to leash rising health care costs, M. Smith on upcoming legal challenges to the state's school finance system, Aaronson interactively explores Medicare spending proposals, Galbraith on efforts to pass — and to oppose — a $6 billion water program, Grissom on the release of a man wrongly convicted of murder and Hamilton on efforts to let the public write some legislation: The best of our best content from October 3 to 7, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
National Report: Texas Juvenile Justice Better, but More Investment Needed

By Danny Guerra Oct. 4, 2011

Since abuse scandals rocked the Texas juvenile justice system in 2007, reforms have led to fewer youths in prison and less crime among youths, but a national report issued Tuesday indicates Texas could still do better. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Updated: An Emotional Morton Thankful His Was Not a Capital Case

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 4, 2011

After an emotional day in court, Michael Morton left prison today, almost 25 years after he was convicted of murdering his wife. His release came after prosecutors agreed his conviction should be overturned based on the results of recent DNA testing. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
Interactive: Texas and the FBI's 2010 Crime Statistics

By Ryan Murphy Oct. 4, 2011

The FBI has released the 2010 edition of Crime in the United States. Use our interactive to compare Texas to other states and our sortable tables to compare crime statistics in cities across Texas. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva
Updated: Morton Wins Release From Prison After 25 Years

By Brandi Grissom Oct. 3, 2011

Michael Morton, who served 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife Christine, now will be released after DNA evidence linked another man to the crime and to another murder 16 months later. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Oct. 1, 2011

Aaronson on the shrinking of state government, Aguilar on the controversy over in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants, Galbraith on Rick Perry vs. the EPA, Grissom on a startling development in a 25-year-old murder case, Hamilton on Ken Starr's first year as president of Baylor, Ramsey on what inmates have to do with redistricting, Ramshaw on the state's crisis in insurance coverage, Root on Perry's presidential grind dance and Smith on obstacles to addressing childhood obesity: The best of our best content from Sept. 26-30, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
On the Records: Fact Checking Perry on Texas Economy Claims

By Becca Aaronson Sept. 30, 2011

The Tribune loves infographics, including the recent one posted by the Perry campaign called “State of Texas Economy.” But like all claims made by a political campaign, it deserves the scrutiny of a fact-checking exercise. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Jay Root
Cattle Rustler Wins Release From Prison

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 28, 2011

Roddy Dean Pippin, the diabetic cowboy who has been in prison for more than eight years, will get to ride out of the big house next month after the state's highest criminal court ruled today that he has done his time. Full Story

Credit: Courtesy Jacie Pippin
DNA Test Links Morton Case to Unsolved Killing?

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 28, 2011

In a startling development, Travis County authorities are investigating whether an unsolved 1988 killing of an Austin woman is related to the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, for which her husband, Michael Morton, is serving life in prison. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Travis County Attorneys May Hold Answers in 25-Year-Old Murder

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 26, 2011

Travis County prosecutors on Monday provided “powerful evidence” to a Williamson County district court that could be crucial in exonerating Michael Morton of the 1986 murder of his wife. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 24, 2011

Ramshaw, Root and Philpott track the governor on the campaign trail, Tan and Dehn on high school football concussions, and Murphy and yours truly on the partisan climates of each district under redistricting maps: The best of our content from Sept. 19 to 23. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Evolving Law Results in Unequal Pay to Exonerated Prisoners

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 23, 2011

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

Credit: Laura Buckman