Clarence Brandley: Unjustly Convicted, Overdue for Justice
One of Texas’ most famous death row exonerees died before winning compensation under a law inspired by his own story.
Criminal Justice
Fair Hiring, Unfair Housing
There are laws and programs to help formerly-incarcerated Texans get employed, but finding a home can be far more challenging.
FBI Overreach Is Concerning, But So Are ‘Radical-Traditionalist’ Catholics
A recently leaked memo recalls a sordid history of inappropriate surveillance, but it also identifies a concerning overlap between neo-fascists and hardline religious groups.
Defense Denied
Many poor Texans are being short-changed on their right to be represented by a defense attorney in cases with potentially life-changing consequences.
‘One of the Most Mentally Ill’ Inmates in Texas Is About to Be Executed
Andre Thomas is scheduled to be executed in April.
The Border Patrol’s Power Grab
The agency seeks more authority from the Legislature to nab trespassers and others in Texas.
An Abolitionist Gets Canned for Upholding the Values of Social Work
A former dean of the University of Houston Graduate College was let go after coming out as an advocate for reforming the police and foster care systems.
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Texas Executes John Balentine Despite Racist Trial
Though he confessed to the murders, his lawyers argue he might have been spared a death sentence if not for pervasive bias at his trial.
Mapping the Legacy of Prison Hunger Strikes in Texas
"I'm willing to die for the cause, because I can't live."
Texas Lawyers Violated Legal Ethics Over Expired Execution Drugs
An expert told the Observer that state’s attorneys “deceived the court by their silence” over supplies of lethal injection drugs.