Cameron Todd Willingham

At bottom, the primary cause for false convictions is the questionable quality of the evidence habitually used in criminal prosecutions. Poor evidence can be produced even when all actors follow procedures diligently and conscientiously.Read More... More on Death PenaltyRead Full Story

A Texas judge who reviewed the controversial 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham planned to posthumously exonerate the father who was put to death for killing his three daughters in a house fire. Scientific experts who debunked the arson evidence used against Willingham at his 1992 trial and a jailhouse witness who recanted his shaky testimony convinced District Court Judge Charlie Baird in 2010 that "Texas wrongfully convicted" him. But Baird's order clearing Willingham's name never...Read Full Story

The evidence continues to mount that the state of Texas executed a potentially innocent man, Cameron Todd Willingham, for a crime he didn't commit. Just days before a committee was to convene, reviewing evidence that the investigation and prosecution that led to Willingham's death by the hands of the state, Texas governor Rick Perry removed three of the member of the panel, cancelling the meeting. Some are now raising concerns that the Republican governor, who refused to grant a stay of...Read Full Story

During the Supreme Court's 2006 adjudication of Cameron v. Marsh, Justice Antonin Scalia had this to say about what would happen if an innocent person was put to death by the criminal justice system: "If such an event had occurred in recent years, we would not have to hunt for it; the innocent's name would be shouted from the rooftops." The last time I had the occasion to dredge up that bit of Scaliana, it was in reference to Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in 2004, wrongly accused...Read Full Story

ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS AP Legal Affairs Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio A death row inmate is hoping the state parole board will give him the chance to argue that a mysterious "man in red" could have started the arson fire that killed his 3-year-old son. Webb doesn't dispute the 1990 blaze was arson, but he denies starting it and says investigators using now-discredited methods came to the wrong conclusion about where in the house the flames broke out. He says the correct...Read Full Story

Today Michelle Bachmann & Ron Paul Were Big Winners In The 2011 Ames Iowa GOP Straw Poll. Pres. Obama's Re-election Campaign Staff Members Are Probably Somewhere Smiling Right About Now. As It Relates To Mitt Romney: His Flip Flopping & Bad Jobs Record Will Cost Him Republican Votes. Rick Perry? More Than 1 Million Jobs For Texans Were Created On Perry's Watch. Low Wage Or Below Federal Minimum Wage Jobs With NO Benefits! VOTE OBAMA IN 2012 & REHIRE PELOSI! Top 10 Things Texas Gov. Rick...Read Full Story

The Troy Davis case has reignited an old debate: when is the death penalty the right answer? Here are several controversial stories from death row in the US. Teresa Lewis The first woman to die by lethal injection in the state of Virginia, Teresa Lewis was convicted of paying to have her husband and stepson murdered in 2002. Her case sparked an outcry, because testing had put Lewis’ IQ at 72, just two points above that classified as intellectually disabled. Her supporters, among them...Read Full Story

By Scott Keyes With widespread discontent on the right over their current presidential field, all eyes are trained on a likely new entrant: Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R). Perry, who has been elected governor three times and served for more than 10 years, enjoys bona fides from social conservatives and Tea Party-types alike. Glenn Beck even described Perry as a man he was so enamored with that he wanted to “French kiss.” However, as conservatives fawn over their newest presidential hopeful, it...Read Full Story

High court gives last-minute stay to condemned Texan Read the original post High court gives last-minute stay to condemned Texan – CNN.com Is Texas Governor Rick Perry Trying To Cover Up Execution Of Innocent Man On His … Oct. 14 Cnn Report On Rick Perry Execution Cover-up Cnn Ac360 On Todd Willingham Execution And Rick Perry's Cover Up – Oct 13, … Oct. 15 Cnn Report On Rick Perry Cover-up Part 1 Why Is Republican, Texas Governor Rick Perry Covering Up His Murder? Why can't a...Read Full Story

"Indifference is the essence of inhumanity". ~George Bernard Shaw~ When Rick Perry was asked by Brian Williams in a recent republican presidential debate if he looses any sleep over the executions in his state, this is how he replied: “I’ve never struggled with that at all.” He said it with a smirk on his face, and when he said it his republican audience roared with applause.Rick Perry has been the overseer of more executions in modern history (234)than any other governor in the United States...Read Full Story