tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post9001760824339413603..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: McLennan DA wants law changed to restrict postconviction DNA testingGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-58883102678004588152011-11-15T14:21:54.778-06:002011-11-15T14:21:54.778-06:00Prosecutors seem to stick together. They think th...Prosecutors seem to stick together. They think that once they railroad an innocent man, he should stay railroaded.Grandmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-88495020841169304302011-11-15T13:32:22.331-06:002011-11-15T13:32:22.331-06:00One of the problems with posting anonymously is th...One of the problems with posting anonymously is that it allows you to say truly stupid things without people knowing who you are. Just saying...<br /><br />Bradley fought DNA testing for Morton for 6 years. He could have wrongfully served "only" 19 yrs. But that same office that railroaded Morton also left the real killer to roam free. It's not proven yet, but I for one believe he murdered my wife, Debra Masters Baker, in 1988. You want to talk costs? Think of 2 extended families devastated. Think of me raising our small children alone. Counseling, residential treatment schools are only some of the money costs. The worst cost was and remains the pain Norwood caused that has lasted these 23 years. And you think Norwood just quit killing in '88 at 2 victims? Believe me, I would gladly have paid out for that Morton DNA testing to finally uncover the real killer.<br /><br />Recent Pew poll showed high support still for the death penalty. Then it also showed that a big share of those pro-death believed that system is not always fair and some innocents have died. And of those, over 50% STILL supported the penalty! Anon seems to fit into this group- money over lives. Time for another Nuremberg trial? We Americans blamed the German people for turning a blind eye to the Holocaust. Aside from scale, what is the difference between killing innocent people to save tax money and turning a blind eye to wrongful state killings?<br /><br />I've had to two close family members murdered in my life, and I am 100% against capital punishment. So don't even start the "If YOU had had this happen..." BS.Phillip Bakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47664007063929847752011-11-15T09:54:30.379-06:002011-11-15T09:54:30.379-06:00You know, Mr. Reyna is not the only DA I have seen...You know, Mr. Reyna is not the only DA I have seen oppose post-conviction DNA testing; there have been many before him. And since they feel this way, I have a suggestion for state legislators: why not outlaw the use of DNA in criminal procedings period? DAs could'nt use it to convict and defense lawyers could'nt use it to exonerate. Make both parties use good old fashion lawyering to either convict or to free the accused.wisdom of solomonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-16362198847406778082011-11-15T02:50:28.015-06:002011-11-15T02:50:28.015-06:00I am the co-author of the blog, "Stop The Mad...I am the co-author of the blog, "Stop The Madness". I am Kay Lincoln, the daughter of the innocent man referenced in the above comment. First of all, I want to commend you for bringing this crazy, scary situation to light. I will definitely be following your blog.<br />Someone had posted a link to this blog on Facebook and I glanced at it and thought that I must have misunderstood it. How could anyone really go on record as being against post-conviction DNA testing?? But then someone else brought it to my attention and suggested I take a look. I AM BLOWN AWAY that an elected official would take such a stance. Post-conviction DNA testing is the last resort for so many condemned men and women in this country, my father being among them. He was convicted in 1983 of a murder he DID NOT COMMIT. In 2010 the DNA was tested and excluded him. We are still fighting for his release and we are making progress. But if Reyna had his way. This completely innocent man would never have the chance to prove his innocence.<br />What the hell is wrong with this man??? He spouts off about caring for victims but refuses to acknowledge that a wrongfully incarcerated individual and his or her family are also victims, victims of the broken justice system.<br />Come on Reyna, you are an elected official and sworn to public service and to uphold JUSTICE!!! Don't try to take away the only chance to prove their innocence that these men and women have.STOPtheMADNESShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10106468252802334255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-66531396677574241532011-11-15T02:42:44.017-06:002011-11-15T02:42:44.017-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.STOPtheMADNESShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10106468252802334255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-21563050553648076252011-11-15T01:46:22.794-06:002011-11-15T01:46:22.794-06:00I love you blog!! It's the first time I have r...I love you blog!! It's the first time I have read it and I'm hooked! My husbands uncle was been wrongfully convicted 29years ago!! Today the Midwest Innocence Project is working hard to get him fully exonerated!! Reading about those in the system like Mr. Reyna makes my blood boil!! Thanks for your very informative and honest blog!!!STOPtheMADNESShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10106468252802334255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-3808312747528081612011-11-14T21:37:27.923-06:002011-11-14T21:37:27.923-06:00I bet that the costs of providing DNA testing to e...I bet that the costs of providing DNA testing to every convicted person that requests it would be but a fraction of the costs that is added to the system by prosecutorial and police misconduct. So, 1:43, I assume, since you are so concerned about costs, you will support implementing serious consequences for prosecutors and police that engage in intentional misconduct. Furthermore, I assume you will oppose the creation of any new criminal offenses by the legislature and will support repealing some offenses currently on the books to reduce costs. Will you support these things? Or, is your concern about costs just an excuse to oppose DNA testing because you don't like the fact that your prescious system might be embarassed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55491809464846062012011-11-14T17:28:08.018-06:002011-11-14T17:28:08.018-06:00Does anyone here know what it actually costs to do...Does anyone here know what it actually costs to do a DNA test? <br /><br />I suspect the additional cost some complain about mostly comes from the court fights that the DAs cause in opposing the tests. So, they only have themselves to blame for the added costs. If they don't oppose the testing, I suspect the cost would be minimal. I wonder, how much does a DNA test actually cost?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72679910591380685972011-11-14T17:26:06.921-06:002011-11-14T17:26:06.921-06:00If it was your wrongful conviction that was being ...If it was your wrongful conviction that was being corrected, how much would it be worth to you?<br /><br />1:43 - what's your answer?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-58625350859209499192011-11-14T17:03:05.309-06:002011-11-14T17:03:05.309-06:00I doubt Reyna has won a case since he's been l...I doubt Reyna has won a case since he's been licensed.<br /><br />His stance as a prosecutor makes you wonder how well he represented his clients when he was a defense lawyer.<br /><br />And he was only swept in because Secrest refused to push weak cases, causing an ignonrant backlash from his ignorant voters. He wouldn't stand a chance against a real opponent based on the issues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49678819406048840992011-11-14T14:47:00.874-06:002011-11-14T14:47:00.874-06:00Let me make sure I have this right. According to R...Let me make sure I have this right. According to Reyna, it's better to execute an innocent, than allows ten guilty to game the system. Wow! Gladder and gladder everyday I put Texas in my rearview mirror.Charlie Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72592631316101076692011-11-14T14:34:14.893-06:002011-11-14T14:34:14.893-06:00Isn't his First Assistant a former Williamson ...Isn't his First Assistant a former Williamson County DA? Just saying...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70035519728231618572011-11-14T13:43:03.108-06:002011-11-14T13:43:03.108-06:00I'm just curious as to how much you criminal j...I'm just curious as to how much you criminal justice "reform" advocates are willing to spend to achieve perfection in the criminal justice system. It seems to me that your "spare no expense to prevent one wrongful conviction" is just the flip side of the contention by many of the "law and order" types who advocate incarceration to "prevent one innocent victim" from being hurt. I suppose there may be some prosecutors or cops who feel like they're infallible, but I don't know any. The system is very much imperfect, hence the burden of proof being "beyond a reasonable doubt" as opposed to "beyond any doubt whatsoever." Ultimately, advances in evidentiary technology and "best practices" should be pursued. At the same time, crimes really do happen and innocent people are victimized--every day. As a free society, we have to be able to protect ourselves from those who would seek to do us harm. If the system improvement, so be it. But I do think it's possible, especially in today's age of blog advocacy and sensationalized media, for there to be an "over-correction." Beware the law of unintended consequences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36539097916416391302011-11-14T11:48:01.096-06:002011-11-14T11:48:01.096-06:00It appears that Reyna honestly believes that each ...It appears that Reyna honestly believes that each person that has had a trial, and found guilty, is truly guilty. As well as if a person is found innocent, they are truly innocent. Huh? If DAs don't share all of the evidence, or if defense attorneys do not attempt to defend their client, then the jury only hears what the court wants them to hear. Not the type of justice system America was founded on. Reyna's "hero" is getting all type of mud slung on his ability, is Reyna next?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44587983355161919382011-11-14T11:03:35.814-06:002011-11-14T11:03:35.814-06:00This is 10:58 for those of you that hate anonymous...This is 10:58 for those of you that hate anonymous posts. Another thing that bothers me is the attitude that we should accept a certain number of wrongful convictictions because the cost of feretting them out is too high? <br /><br />I recently watched an old movie about the Nuremberg Trials of the judges who enforced the laws implementd by the Nazis. One thing that struck me is that people would tolerate, and even participate, in some very heinous things because they were convinced it was for the good of the country and the people. I see that in our criminal justice system. So what if some people are wrongly sentenced to spend most of their lives in prison, or are even executed. Its for the greate good, isn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91800718473608975242011-11-14T10:58:38.616-06:002011-11-14T10:58:38.616-06:00Those like this DA and 10:37 are being disingenuou...Those like this DA and 10:37 are being disingenuous when they raise the cost issue. First, I doubt that it costs much to do a DNA test. If the DAs would stop making such a fuss and just allow it to be done the costs would probably be minimal. And, I may be wrong but I'm thinking in some of these cases, others have paid for the testing. <br /><br />Second, these are the same people who are always advocating more spending on criminal justice, more police, more resources for police and prosecutors, more jails, more prisons, etc. The only spending they oppose is that which might expose problems in the system. <br /><br />These people suffer from a type of mental illness, a denial that the system is ever wrong. I'll call it Criminal Justice Denial Syndrome. While they may know that it has been shown that innocent people are wrongly convicted, they seem to be in denial that it ever happens. I think they believe that, even if the person were innocent they surely did something to deserve what they got..so, the system didn't screw up and there is no need to do anything to fix it. This really seems to be a delusional belief that they have. Maybe we need to set aside some money in the criminal justice system for mental health treatment for prosecutors that suffer from this illness. <br /><br />Its scary to see people who wield such power but lack the insight to see what should be as plain as the nose on their face and who will use any argument, no matter how lacking in credibility, to protect the system at all costs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-17380630598340831302011-11-14T10:43:35.809-06:002011-11-14T10:43:35.809-06:00"I will be curious to see some type of cost/b..."I will be curious to see some type of cost/benefit analyis regarding the expense of this additional DNA testing vs. how many wrongful convictions are corrected."<br /><br />If it was your wrongful conviction that was being corrected, how much would it be worth to you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-6047681645785967202011-11-14T10:37:44.846-06:002011-11-14T10:37:44.846-06:00It's going to be interesting to see what the r...It's going to be interesting to see what the results are of the testing in the Skinner case. Based upon my limited understanding of the evidence in that case, I would be willing to bet it shows he's guilty, or it's inconclusive. If it shows he's guilty, I can already hear the anti-death penalty crowd sanctimoniously claiming "what did it hurt." Well, maybe nothing, actually. But what will public sentiment be? I would also be willing to bet that for every exoneration accomplished by DNA testing, there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of convicts who are going to try to game the system. Toward this end, I think Reyna does have a point. There are sometimes some very enlightened discussions on this blog regarding the economics of the criminal justice policy. As time goes by, I will be curious to see some type of cost/benefit analyis regarding the expense of this additional DNA testing vs. how many wrongful convictions are corrected.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90349371153912852462011-11-14T10:36:16.660-06:002011-11-14T10:36:16.660-06:00It just occurred to me what this really about. I ...It just occurred to me what this really about. I recall reading something saying that when this guy was elected he said he intended to run his office the way John Bradley runs his. DNA testing has made his hero look bad, so instead of realizing that his hero is a slimeball, he has to attack the thing that brought his hero down. Not surprising for someone so weak-minded as to see someone like Bradley as a hero.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70716298922836202832011-11-14T10:26:27.052-06:002011-11-14T10:26:27.052-06:00This guy is attempting to use victims, as many do,...This guy is attempting to use victims, as many do, for his own purposes. Doesn't he think victims have an interest in making sure the right person was convicted. Also, what about the other potential victims where a real criminal remains free because the wrong person was convicted? This isn't about victims, its about protecting a broken system at all costs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-83470890760740622952011-11-14T10:20:04.998-06:002011-11-14T10:20:04.998-06:00I'm joking Charles. He's a young attorney ...I'm joking Charles. He's a young attorney who beat a long-time incumbent in the 2010 GOP sweeps. So really it's something like 21 months. But in the context of this particular argument, at least, he may as well have only been here 10 minutes.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4439252490875834802011-11-14T10:12:15.318-06:002011-11-14T10:12:15.318-06:00Ten minutes or ten months, Grits?Ten minutes or ten months, Grits?ckikerintuliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02670661043872744115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69762654257270631022011-11-14T09:44:31.213-06:002011-11-14T09:44:31.213-06:00He's barely been in office 10 minutes, 8:30. I...He's barely been in office 10 minutes, 8:30. I think some of this is inexperience talking.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-19562319889117643602011-11-14T08:57:26.993-06:002011-11-14T08:57:26.993-06:00As a great philosopher once said: "You can...As a great philosopher once said: "You can't fix stupid."The Comediannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-87010030918734533012011-11-14T08:30:19.781-06:002011-11-14T08:30:19.781-06:00Makes one wonder how many innocents Reyna knows he...Makes one wonder how many innocents Reyna knows he's convicted. He must have a lot to hide...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com