Criminal Law Blog
Whattha? Judge Charlie Baird Rebuked by Appeals Court in Willingham Case
You’ll remember Judge Charlie Baird – we’ve written about him before: Judge Baird was the man who took on the Tim Cole matter when others on the bench would not, and we tipped our hat to him for it (read “Judge Charlie Baird May Exonerate a Dead Man and Give Justice to Tim Cole”). Judge Baird…
Six Veteran Fort Worth Cops Fired Yesterday for Theft – Felony Charges Should Follow
Police officers getting caught violating the law for whatever reason is always alarming, but it’s especially disconcerting when there’s a group of cops involved and they’ve been on the force long enough to really, really know better. Fort Worth Cops Fired for Faking Traffic Tickets to Boost Their Pay Yesterday, six (6) Fort Worth police…
Thanksgiving 2010: Get Ready, Texas, for Another No Refusal DWI Holiday
Law enforcement loves No Refusal weekends – counties all over the Lone Star State are now routinely blanketing holiday weekends with No Refusal efforts with notice to the public popping up in press releases issued as late as 24 hours before the holiday begins. You remember No Refusal weekends: those are the set time periods…
Denton Cop Bobby Lozano’s Murder of His Wife Covered by Discovery Channel’s David Lohr
Last year, former Texas police detective Bobby Lozano was tried and convicted in a Denton courtroom for the murder of his wife, Viki. Maybe you remember the case: a real life detective tried to get away with killing his wife — shooting her to death in their bedroom with his service revolver. Detective Lozano said…
Texas Judge Suzanne Wooten Indicted for Bribery, Suspended With Pay
Suzanne Wooten isn’t on the bench today, but she’s still getting a Collin County pay check. This week, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (the same organization that’s been so busy with the Justice Keller mess) announced that Judge Wooten was suspended from presiding over the 380th Judicial District Court of Collin County, Texas, an action…
Texas Cops Kill Another Suspect with Taser Stun Gun
Within months of Fort Worth offering up $2 million settlement in the Cop-Taser death of Michael Jacobs, a Dallas police officer repeatedly used a stun gun to stop a man running away from the cops last Sunday morning — and that man, identified as Freddie Lee Lockett of Irving, has died. From media reports, we know…
Fort Worth Cops – Excessive Force Caught on Video? Watch and Decide for Yourself.
Carey Cass Hudson admits to being charged with driving drunk and being hauled down to the Fort Worth jail — but he’s not defending against a DWI charge. Nope, Hudson is fighting Fort Worth law enforcement by accusing the cops of using excessive force against him down at the station. And Carey Cass Hudson has it all…
McAllen Judge Arrested 4 Paying Off Credit Cards With Traffic Fine Money
The hurricane hitting South Texas today is the least of La Joya Municipal Court Judge Joe Henry Garza’s problems. At 55 years old, he’s been busted. Arrested, arraigned, the whole nines yards when you’re charged with a felony. And, yes, this South Texas municipal judge is facing felony theft charges. Judge Garza stands accused of putting his hand…
Prosecutor Caught Withholding Evidence from Defense – AGAIN
Last week, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie McFarland stood before a Texas district court judge for the second time in 15 months to hear the court’s findings that she had illegally and improperly withheld evidence from the defense. That’s right. A prosecutor in front of the bench being told she’s done something wrong. The same thing, for…
Hank Skinner Execution Still Set 4 Today – France Is Asking for Delay. That’s Right. France.
There’s been lots of news coverage over the impending execution by the State of Texas of 47-year-old Hank Skinner, who has been sentenced to death for the murder of his girlfriend and her two adult sons back on New Year’s Eve 1993. Hank Skinner says he’s innocent. He’s asking for DNA testing to be done. …
