In the draft, commissioners noted they were hesitant to make a stronger statement in the case because a recent state attorney general's opinion that suggests the Willingham case is outside their jurisdiction.
Steve Saloom, policy director of the New York-based Innocence Project, which filed the Willingham complaint, expressed disappointment with the draft and said he hoped to meet with commission members to explore ways in which they could make a more definitive statement."
REPORTER ALLAN TURNER: HOUSTON CHRONICLE;
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What has been lost is the fact that Mr. Willingham and others were convicted of arson related crimes based upon faulty scientific principles and misleading testimony. This begs the question, "Does anyone really care?" I know that many in Texas and the nation care about these issues. I'm hopeful that true leaders of Texas will step up to the plate to amend the statute to leave no question that the improvements necessary to move into the 21st century of forensic science should not be limited to cases where testing took place in 2005 and beyond. Texas can do better.
ORIGINAL PANEL CHAIR: SAM BASSETT;
"AUSTIN – A state commission reviewing the quality of arson investigations that helped send a Corsicana man to his execution came within a hair's breadth today of deciding not to censure the state fire marshal's office for shoddy work – then decided to put the controversial matter on hold until its October meeting," the Houston Chronicle story by reporter Allan Turner filed on September 9, 2011 under the heading, "panel delays Willingham decision after AG opinion", begins.
"The Texas Forensic Science Commission already has issued 17 recommendations for ways state and local arson investigators can improve their science. At today's meeting, commissioner Chairman Nazim Peerwani told colleagues the fire marshal's office is moving toward meeting those suggestions," the story continues.
"Today's decision to defer action came as the group considered a draft report in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in 2004 for killing his three young children in a December 1991 house fire.
In the draft, commissioners noted they were hesitant to make a stronger statement in the case because a recent state attorney general's opinion that suggests the Willingham case is outside their jurisdiction.
Steve Saloom, policy director of the New York-based Innocence Project, which filed the Willingham complaint, expressed disappointment with the draft and said he hoped to meet with commission members to explore ways in which they could make a more definitive statement.
The commission, he said, is "on the right track but the job is not done.""
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The story can be found at:
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PER THE HUFFINGTON POST:
Sam Bassett, the original chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, who endured no small amount of political pressure from the office of Gov. Rick Perry, before ultimately being removed from the Commission in favor of a Perry ally, sounded a downcast note at the news. He tells the Huffington Post:
It is a sad day for criminal justice in Texas as the Forensic Science Commission has shelved the Willingham investigation. The Commission members may have felt they had no choice, given the recently released Attorney General's Opinion. It seems to me that the opinion by the Attorney General was the culmination of an effort which began in February, 2009 when the Governor's General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel made it clear to me that the Commission "should not be investigating" the Willingham matter. Their wishes have been carried out, at least for now.
What has been lost is the fact that Mr. Willingham and others were convicted of arson related crimes based upon faulty scientific principles and misleading testimony. This begs the question, "Does anyone really care?" I know that many in Texas and the nation care about these issues. I'm hopeful that true leaders of Texas will step up to the plate to amend the statute to leave no question that the improvements necessary to move into the 21st century of forensic science should not be limited to cases where testing took place in 2005 and beyond. Texas can do better.
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;
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;
