Storm Brews Over TX Judge Who Refused Late Capital Appeal
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is among a growing number of lawyers who are criticizing the presiding judge of Texas’ highest criminal court for refusing a death penalty appeal filed 20 minutes late.
The group has sent a complaint against the judge, Sharon Keller, to the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct, the New York Times reports. Keller may already be the subject of a complaint filed on the same grounds; several Texas lawyers announced earlier this month that they would be filing it.
Inmate Michael Richard was executed despite his lawyers’ attempts to seek an emergency stay pending a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a lethal injection case. His lead lawyer, David Dow, told the Times the appeal was late because of a computer breakdown. Keller has said she was unaware of the reason for the delay.
