INNOCENCE LEGISLATION: "IT'S A FINE DAY AT THE CAPITAL FOR INNOCENCE LEGISLATION," SAYS "GRITS FOR BREAKFAST";

"I've said this before, but I'm incredibly proud of the exonerees who've come back to the capitol over and over to promote innocence legislation. It'd be tempting for them to take their money and get the hell out of Texas after what happened to them, and some have, but the fellows at the capitol yesterday not only stuck around but are actively pushing to prevent what happened with them from happening to others. It's humbling, and a real honor, to get to work with such folks."

GRITS FOR BREAKFAST; "Grits for Breakfast" says it "looks at the Texas criminal justice system, with a little politics and whatever else suits the author's (Scott Henson) fancy thrown in. All opinions are my own. The facts belong to everybody." Its motto: "Welcome to Texas justice: You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride."

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"Yesterday was a fine day at the capitol for innocence legislation," the Grits For Breakfast Post published earlier today under the heading, "Big day for innocence legislation, but deadlines loom for DNA testing, preservation bills," begins.

"Texas' latest DNA exoneree, Johnny Pinchback, who spent 27 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit, was there along with five other exonerees and Tim Cole's half-brother Cory Session to watch the Texas Senate pass two favorable bills: Eyewitness ID reform and innocence compensation legislation that gives exonerees health benefits and will let Anthony Graves receive compensation.

Here's a sample from the extensive MSM coverage:

Dallas News
Texas Tribune
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Associated Press," it continues.

"Of the other innocence-related legislation, two bills remain alive that deserve passage in the final days of the session - SB 122 improving access to post-conviction DNA testing, and SB 1616 which would establish evidence preservation standards for biological evidence. Both were passed out of House committee and recommended for the Local and Consent calendar where they still have time to pass, though the deadline looms large.

Despite the passage of the bills, meeting Mr. Pinchback was the highlight of my day. What a great guy, and what an atrocity he endured! Another exoneree at the capitol yesterday, Charles Chatman, met Pinchback in prison and became "like brothers," both men told me, watching each other's backs for years in an environment where prisoners convicted of a sex offense aren't the most popular on the cell block. The best part: Chatman didn't forget his pal when he got out, pressing my employers at the Innocence Project of Texas to vigorously pursue the case until DNA testing proved his innocence and he was finally released from prison last week.

I've said this before, but I'm incredibly proud of the exonerees who've come back to the capitol over and over to promote innocence legislation. It'd be tempting for them to take their money and get the hell out of Texas after what happened to them, and some have, but the fellows at the capitol yesterday not only stuck around but are actively pushing to prevent what happened with them from happening to others. It's humbling, and a real honor, to get to work with such folks. I hope the Texas House honors their efforts as well by finally passing those last two bills before next week's deadline."

The post can be found at:

http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2011/05/big-day-for-innocence-legislation-but.html

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 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

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;