"What's at Stake Here?
Judge Fine has told the media that he is not personally vested in the issue of capital punishment, and that the hearing is focused only upon Mr. Green's case and is not to be considered as a method to bring the entirety issue of capital punishment up for appellate review. The evidentiary hearing was set to allow defense counsel the ability to present evidence dealing with how the State of Texas implements capital punishment, using forensic evidence and witness testimony to demonstrate constitutional error that would impact upon their client's case.
Be that as it may, here in Florida and elsewhere,we can recall how Furman dealt with state implementation of the death penalty, and resulted in a four year national moratorium.
Avalaches can and do start from a single, small rock."
FLORIDA CRIMINAL TRIAL LAWYER TERRY LENAMON; FROM HIS "DEATH PENALTY BLOG."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND; John Edward Green, Jr, is charged with capital murder in the 2008 slaying of one of two sisters he allegedly shot during a robbery. Witnessed by the victim's two children, Huong Nguyen, 34, was killed in her own driveway. Judge Kevin Fine brought the case considerable attention after he said that the procedures for imposing the death penalty in Texas are unconstitutional, clarified that decision, then rescinded it but scheduled a hearing on actual innocence which has since been blocked by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In Houston, Texas, a man named John Edward Green is on trial for the murder of a Houston woman and her sister during the commission of a robbery, and the State of Texas is seeking the death penalty," lawyer Terry Lenamon's post published on December 28, 2010 begins, under the heading "Will Texas Trial Judge Get Chance to Rule Death Penalty Unconstitutional in Pending Murder Case?"
"Presiding over this trial is state district judge Kevin Fine, and Judge Fine has become somewhat of a national celebrity in some circles as someone trying to rule on the constitutionality of the death penalty (which most think is an issue pretty well settled by the U.S. Supreme Court), opening the doors to appellate review, and reconsideration, by doing so," the post continues.
"Judge Fine did make a ruling on the issue back in March (he declared the death penalty unconstitutional then) but he took that back (rescinded) and opted to schedule an evidentiary hearing on the matter. That hearing was scheduled to begin December 7, 2010.
Of course, he's been stopped. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals shot him down under the standard been-there, done-that argument you would expect. (Officially, they heard the Harris County District Attorney's Office motion to stop the hearing, and two days into it, the appellate court halted the proceedings before Judge Fine until further notice.)
Then, the CCA reconsidered things, and on December 7, 2010 ordered (read the Order here) that they have decided to reconsider relator's motion for leave to file a petition for writ of prohibition and a petition for writ of mandamus and "... the Honorable Kevin Fine, Judge of the 177th District Court, and John Edward Green, Jr., the real party in interest, may wish to respond. Therefore, within 15 days of the date of this order, Judge Fine and Mr. Green, or his representative, shall file their respective responses in this Court. Proceedings in the trial court shall be stayed pending further order by this Court."
Now, an amicus curaie has been filed -- signed by over 60 friends of the highest criminal court in the state -- asking that it reconsider its ruling. A former Texas governor has signed this brief (Mark White). So have the former governors of Maryland (Parris Glendening) and Indiana (Joe Kernan), as well as lots of other impressive signatories that include former judges, district attorneys, and other prominent folk.
The eyes of the nation are on this Austin court now - as well as the world. The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, and others are all watching to see what the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will do now.
What's at Stake Here?
Judge Fine has told the media that he is not personally vested in the issue of capital punishment, and that the hearing is focused only upon Mr. Green's case and is not to be considered as a method to bring the entirety issue of capital punishment up for appellate review. The evidentiary hearing was set to allow defense counsel the ability to present evidence dealing with how the State of Texas implements capital punishment, using forensic evidence and witness testimony to demonstrate constitutional error that would impact upon their client's case.
Be that as it may, here in Florida and elsewhere,we can recall how Furman dealt with state implementation of the death penalty, and resulted in a four year national moratorium.
Avalaches can and do start from a single, small rock."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The story can be found at:
http://www.deathpenaltyblog.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 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 accessed at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=120008354894645705&postID=8369513443994476774
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;
