Sunday, June 3, 2012

Michael Morton: DA Bradley's defeat seen as 1st link between exoneration case and political result. Focus now on former prosecutor Ken Anderson; AP


STORY: "Texas DA linked to wrongful conviction out of a job," by reporter Nomaan Manning, published by the Associated Press on June 3, 2012.


GIST: "In a state where dozens of wrongfully convicted people have been freed, Bradley’s loss was an extremely rare example of a wrongful conviction case having electoral consequences. Bandanas popped up near Bradley’s campaign signs, and mailings from both sides addressed his role in the case. “The guy that went to jail, all it would have taken was a signature for DNA,” said Gene Barnhart, a 69-year-old resident of Georgetown, just north of Austin, who voted for Bradley’s opponent. “I just didn’t like the way that was handled.” Observers and criminal justice advocates said they couldn’t remember another prosecutor being turned out of office for his handling of a wrongful conviction case. “I’ve always wanted to see an exoneration case translate itself into a political result like this,” said Jeff Blackburn, chief counsel for the Innocence Project of Texas. “Now, it’s beginning to come true.”.........Morton and his attorneys now accuse the trial prosecutor, Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson, of not turning over all the evidence in the case. Among that evidence were statements from Morton’s then 3-year-old son, Eric, who told his grandmother that he saw someone else commit the murder, and a neighbor who saw a man park a green van near the Morton home and walk into a wooded area behind it. Anderson was appointed a district judge in 2002. He now faces a proceeding known as a “court of inquiry” to investigate whether he acted properly in the case."

The story can be found at:


PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.