Innocence Blog

Friday Roundup: A Troubling Development in Texas

Posted: October 2, 2009 6:50 pm

We wrote this week about Gov. Rick Perry’s troubling move to remove three members from a panel charged with reviewing arson evidence that led to Cameron Todd Willingham’s 2004 execution. Because of the shakeup, the panel's meeting scheduled for today was cancelled.

The fallout continues — here are stories from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal Law Blog, USA Today, Volokh Conspiracy and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Join the conversation about this case on our Facebook page.

This week’s move by Gov. Perry, together with other forensic stories in Texas and around the country, have underscored the need for an independent, science-based federal entity to support and oversee forensic science:

An article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram investigated questions about the reliability of autopsies.

The Houston Chronicle published an editorial about wrongful convictions and dog scent lineups. “We love dogs, but we have our limits. We don't think they should be allowed to vote, hold public office or provide court testimony,” the paper's editors wrote.

David Scott of Indiana is seeking to clear his name. He was freed last year after serving 23 years for a murder he didn’t commit, but he still has the crime on his record.

Wilder “Ken” Berry, a wrongfully convicted Illinois man who was cleared in 2006 was appointed to serve on a board that advises the state department of corrections on its policies.


KPBS public radio profiled the work of the California Innocence Project.