Texas death penalty under fire from Supreme Court

By Jeff Franks

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of another Texas death penalty case this week was the latest rebuke to the state's legal system that critics complain is too pro-capital punishment.

It was the fourth time in two years that the nation's highest court overturned a death sentence that Texas courts and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans had let stand.

Snip

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday threw out the 1986 conviction of Thomas Miller-El, who is black, on grounds his trial was unfair because prosecutors in Dallas tried to keep blacks off the jury that sentenced him to die for killing a hotel clerk.

It was the second time the court overturned the conviction and the majority opinion written by Justice David Souter reflected a certain incredulity that the lower courts had not thrown the case out earlier.



I hope the 5th circuit will learn something. That, they must do their jobs and not rubber stamp Texas convictions!

Semper Fi