Articles Of Impeachment Against Court Of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharron Keller Filed By State Rep. Lon Burnam
Vince Leibowitz | Feb 16, 2009 | Comments 3 |
State Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) has filed a resolution which will trigger impeachment proceedings against Judge Sharron Keller, the presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and could eventually lead to her removal from office.
From Burnam’s press release (we’ll update you again about 7:15 p.m. with original reporting and commentary):
House Resolution 480 accuses Judge Keller of “neglect of duty” for declining to keep her office open past 5 pm to receive the final pleadings of condemned inmate, Michael Richard, on September 25, 2007.
Mr. Richards was executed that night by lethal injection. His lawyers claim that because of his low mental acuity, his execution was “cruel and unusual” based on standards set by the United States Supreme Court.
Today’s filing is the latest in a series of attempts to remove Judge Keller from the bench, including letters to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct from lawmakers, attorneys and community activist calling for her removal. To date the Commission has taken no actions.
“It’s one thing for a banker to close shop at five o’clock sharp,” said Rep. Lon Burnam, the principal author of the resolution. “But a public official who stands between a human being and the death chamber must be held to a higher standard.”
If passed the resolution calls on the House of Representatives to form a committee to investigate the Judge for “gross neglect of duty and willing disregard for human life.” If the House finds cause for impeachment, a trial would then be held in the State Senate.
The State of Texas has not impeached a state judge since the 1970’s when a series of judicial scandals led to ethics reforms.
On the day of the execution, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would rule on a case claiming the use of lethal injection unconstitutional. The announcement resulted in a de facto nationwide moratorium on execution as states waited to hear the high court’s ruling. Mr. Richards was the last person executed before the moratorium.
Related posts:
- Burnam Will Force Vote On Keller Impeachment
- Former Clements Appointee To Court Of Criminal Appeals Will Preside Over Complaint Against Keller
- Complete Text Of Articles Of Impeachment Of President Bush Filed By Congressman Kucinich
- Bill Ceverha Responds To Rep. Lon Burnam’s Call For His Removal
- As Conflict In State’s Highest Criminal Court Boils Over To Front Pages, Further Evidence Of Dissatisfaction With Keller Becomes Public
Filed Under: 81st Texas Legislature • Featured • Texas Judiciary
[...] to have a nice thorough airing of grievances against the chief culprit of Texas’ worst court. Vince has also noted this. Scott? Mark? Murray? What do y’all think about [...]