If you have been paying attention at all, you know that the Texas death penalty machine has been operating at full tilt – 508 executions since 1982, with 16 in just 2013. This includes the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, and it had become abundantly clear, even before his execution, that Willingham was actually innocent.
Texas is now getting ready to execute Rodney Reed for a murder that it is likely somebody else committed. This could be confirmed by simple DNA testing of items from the crime scene, and has been requested by his attorney and The Innocence Project. But the state of Texas has steadfastly refused to do the testing, and in a hearing held just last Tuesday, a Texas judge has ruled that no further DNA testing is warranted. See the report on that hearing by The Intercept here.
CNN has posted a story by Dan Simon about the case, and you can read that story here.
This from the CNN story:
“Why on earth, one wonders, would Texas battle fiercely against conducting the testing? Would it be naive to propose the state should welcome it?
The answer cannot be the meager costs of running the tests or the negligible time they would take to run. Nor could the state claim to be acting out of respect for the victim’s loved ones — a dubious justification from the outset — given that numerous members of her (the victim’s) family are campaigning publicly on Reed’s behalf.
The best explanation for the state’s aversion to the testing may be the dread of learning the truth. The prospect of finding that Reed is innocent would deliver a resounding condemnation of the state’s criminal justice process — its detectives, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, jurors and appellate courts.”
There is significant case detail in the original story by The Intercept, which you can read here.
Wrongful Convictions Blog 
Another shining example of “process over justice.”
Texas prefers to bury its mistakes.
Yes, Texas prefers to bury its mistakes and all that would get exposed. What politician should be allowed to play God with another man’s life in a civilized society? Murder by the state?
I agree…the state shows no mercy
Brenda, No conscience or soul.
Reblogged this on Citizens, not serfs.
This is what Texas calls JUSTICE NOTHING CLOSE TO JUSTICE. It is what I call “WHAT HAS THE MOST MONEY” JUSTICE the one who can pay their way out. When you are poor and innocent you don’t have a chance especially when the person that is guilty has unlimited resources to money because they can and do pay their way out of prison. It is the JOB OF THE PROSECUTORS TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT PERSON IS PROSECUTED NOT THE INNOCENT PERSON
I am not surprised at the refusal of this state to conduct DNA testing. I am the advocate and now author, of the Joe O’Dell case in Virginia (new book The Corruption of Innocence, a Journey for Justice) in which I brought an international forum to the subject of DNA testing before we executed this man who claimed innocence consistently for over a decade. I authored the book to inform others worldwide, just why they refused to conduct the test. It is not rocket science, as in most of these controverial cases the prosecutor (and Attorney General in my case) wish to bury their mistake over destroying their political career. Political corruption ran deep and was never exposed in this case that brought the intervention of Pope John Paul, Mother Teresa, the Italian and European Parliaments and millions around the world. I had to write the book to expose the truth in my interest to reform the system
Your well informed comment is greatly
appreciated.
Reblogged this on Colder Case.
This is ongoing arrogance on the part of the state. Why assume the criminal justice system is perfect? It never has been.
Five Texas wrongful convictions here:
http://wronglyconvictedgroup.wordpress.com/category/case-location/united-states/texas/
including Rodney Reed