tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post9025985281496838975..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Capital defense expenses the result of DA decisions, not a "financial emergency"Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-81881688934313054212011-09-13T09:00:55.457-05:002011-09-13T09:00:55.457-05:00Just a clarification. The program set up by the T...Just a clarification. The program set up by the Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense (as it was called in 2007) was the West Texas Public Defender for Capital Cases. That office has now expanded to all other regions around the state except the north central and northeast Texas regions (plans to expand to those in FY2013 are in the works). With the expansion, the office is now called the Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases. It is a trial level public defender office, not appellate and there are now well over 100 counties participating in the program.David Slaytonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69171754373138003882011-09-08T14:47:13.378-05:002011-09-08T14:47:13.378-05:00In other countries, people don't go to court f...In other countries, people don't go to court for a simple spend ticket, they just pay and move on... Different culture..!Attorneys in Columbia SChttp://paulplatte.com/areas-of-practicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-84582502013508785062011-09-08T10:51:17.506-05:002011-09-08T10:51:17.506-05:00Here's a simple solution that will save a lot ...Here's a simple solution that will save a lot of money. End the death penalty. Clearly it is rife with problems. Innocent men have been killed. Others have spent decades in prison before finally proving their innocence. The cost of mandated appeals alone is huge. So how about Texas joining the entire rest of the industrialized countries of the world and ending this capricious, barbaric practice? Or do we really want to continue keeping company with enlightened regimes like China, Iran, North Korea, Yemen..?Phillip Bakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-68671953454677710002011-09-08T08:45:43.699-05:002011-09-08T08:45:43.699-05:00It is a complicated issue. Many years ago, capital...It is a complicated issue. Many years ago, capital defense attorneys, particularly habeas lawyers, thought about refusing to provide any more pro bono or underpaid labor because it merely subsidized a system that otherwise denied counsel to death row inmates. However, very few could stand to watch while inmates were executed without lawyers. Similarly, here, is it encouraging counties to seek death sentences because there is money for the defense, or is it just avoiding an underfunded defense? The Task Force (which is now the Texas Commission on Indigent Defense), is issuing a grant because that is the only mechanism they have for funding. Your point is good, but the issue is not simple.Alex Buninnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-25902843415808650402011-09-08T06:09:01.285-05:002011-09-08T06:09:01.285-05:00I've often wondered just how many days our jus...I've often wondered just how many days our justice system could hold up if everyone arrested demanded a trial. Even if only 20% would do it they could bring the entire system to a complete halt within a week. And that's not even considering the financial aspects...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com