The night prior to Hernandez’s execution, another death row inmate, Donald Newbury, was granted a stay by the U.S. Supreme Court.  Newbury had been scheduled to be executed on February 1.  The reason for the stay is related to death row inmates’ initial appeals and the lack of legal assistance that was provided to Newbury. This comes at a time when a similar case is before the Supreme Court from Arizona. Newbury’s current lawyers argued that their client should be granted a stay until a decision is made on the Arizona case. Read more.

Newbury was convicted of killing a police officer, Aubrey Hawkins, from Irving in 2000 when he escaped along with 6 other prisoners. Newbury was one of three escapees who received a death sentence.

This discussion is very timely and relevant for anyone interested in the future of Texas politics!

Register for the conference online today! or  Download the registration form and mail it in. (Early-Bird Rates in effect until February 1, 2012)

Complete conference information is available on the TCADP conference webpage.

Panelist Bios:

Moderator – Jim Henson, the Director of the Texas Politics project

Jim Henson directs the Texas Politics project and teaches in the Department of Government at The University of Texas, where he also received a doctorate. He helped design public interest multimedia for the Benton Foundation in Washington, D.C., in the late 1990s and has written about politics in general-interest and academic publications. He also serves as associate director of the College of Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services unit at UT, where he has helped produce several award-winning instructional media projects. In 2008, he and Daron Shaw, a fellow UT government professor, established the first statewide, publicly available internet survey of public opinion in Texas using matched random sampling. He lives in Austin, where he also serves as a member of the City of Austin Ethics Review Commission.

Michael Cline, the Associate Director of the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University

Michael Cline is the Associate Director of the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas at Rice University, an applied research center devoted to understanding the determinants and consequences of demographic change in Texas and beyond.  The current work of the Hobby Center includes estimating changes in the uninsured as a result of changes in healthcare policies, understanding the implications of demographic change for transportation demand, and exploring the socioeconomic effects of energy development for communities in Texas, among other things.   Dr. Cline previously served as the Director of Research at the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research and the Assistant Director for the Small Business Development Center National Information Clearinghouse at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  His professional work in demography began soon after the 1990 Census – when he assisted in the analyses for re-districting proposals for county commissioner courts in west Texas.   Since that time he has provided demographic research to assist in planning for businesses, non-profits, and other institutions.  In addition to his work in demography, he has provided economic impact assessments of various businesses and organizations including the University of Texas System.  His work is published in various public policy reports and academic and professional journals.   Dr. Cline earned his Ph.D. in Applied Demography from the University of Texas at San Antonio, his M.A. in Geography from Kansas State University and his B.A. in Geography from Texas Tech University.

Andres Gonzalez, Political Consultant

Andres Gonzalez is a Partner with the Adelante Strategy Group, based in Washington, DC and San Antonio, Texas.  He has been involved in business and politics in Texas and nationally for over 25 years, including most recently as the owner of Andres Gonzalez and Associates, a Public Affairs and Political Consulting firm started in 1992 and located in Austin and San Antonio, Texas. The firm has represented small and large businesses, public entities (cities, counties and Indian Tribes), political organizations and candidates.

Andres has worked with clients in the energy, telecommunications, medical, construction, retail sales and housing industries. He has provided strategic planning, lobbying, grassroots lobbying, financial and project management services, and consulted on all aspects of political campaigns.

Andres Gonzalez & Associates is the only Hispanic–owned firm hired as Field Consultants to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for the last three election cycles. During the 2002 election cycle Andres served as the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Hispanic Outreach Project.

His various governmental positions have included serving as Special Assistant to U.S. Senator Robert Krueger (D-TX), White House Liaison for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Director of Agency Administration for Texas General Land Office.

His national political activities include serving in four presidential campaigns as State Director and in National Staff positions. He also served as a volunteer for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Clinton Administration, and served as volunteer Advance Staff for the Hillary Rodham Clinton Exploratory Committee. In addition he has worked on and run U.S. Senate, Congressional and statewide races in Texas.

Andres is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and has a BBA in Accounting. His civic activities have included serving on the boards of The Hispanic Institute and The William C. Velasquez Institute, and serving as one of the founding instructors for the Southwest Voter Registration & Education Project’s Latino Institute.

Luis Figueroa, Staff Attorney, MALDEF

While at MALDEF, Luis Figueroa has testified in numerous legislative hearings to advocate for the protection and advancement of Latino rights, particularly on the issues of bilingual education reform, access to higher education, voting rights, and immigrant rights. He has provided invited testimony on state legislation related to voter identification requirements at the polls, the Texas Top Ten Percent Plan, Texas Grants, and state enforcement of immigration. He also has coordinated multi-state election protection efforts and co-chaired the Texas Latino Complete Count Committee for Census 2010.

Prior to MALDEF, Luis was an Esther Peterson Fellow for the Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, where he advocated for federal consumer protections.

Luis Figueroa grew up in El Paso, Texas. In the summer of 1999, he interned at the El Paso office of Texas Rural Legal Aid. In the fall of 1999, Luis interned at the White House in the Office of Political Affairs. In law school, Luis was a student attorney for the University of Texas Immigration Law Clinic and served on the board of the Public Interest Law Association.

Death Penalty in Texas 2012

Panel Discussion with Exonerees Anthony Graves and Clarence Brandley and the Rev. Carroll Pickett, former death house chaplain

Thursday, February 2

Southern Methodist University

306 Dallas Hall, McCord Auditorium, 7:00-9:00pm

Sponsored by Embrey Human Rights Program, 214-768-8347, Download Flier

Anthony Graves spent 18 years in prison, including 12 years on the Texas death row, for a crime he did not commit.  In October 2010 prosecutors dropped all charges against him and declared him innocent after conducting their own investigation of the case.

Clarence Brandley in 1981, while a janitor at a high school in Conroe, Texas, was wrongly convicted of the rape and murder of Cheryl Dee Ferguson, a 16 year-old student. Brandley was held for nine years on death row. After community outcry and lengthy legal proceedings, that eventually ended in the Supreme Court of the United States, Clarence Brandley was freed in 1990.

Rev. Carroll Pickett is a Presbyterian minister who spent 15 years as the death house Chaplain in Huntsville. He gave comfort to 95 men before they were put to death by lethal injection. Rev. Pickett is the author of the book Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain and his story was featured in the documentary At the Death House Door. He is now a strong opponent of the death penalty and speaks of his observations about capital punishment and the world of prison society.

  ]]> http://tcadp.org/2012/01/25/dallas-panel-discussion/feed/ 0 http://tcadp.org/2012/01/23/austin-events-2012/ http://tcadp.org/2012/01/23/austin-events-2012/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:02:47 +0000 Vicki McCuistion http://tcadp.org/?p=3995 Please consider participating in the Austin area opportunities listed below.

Violence And The Death Penalty In Texas – Walter Long

Walter Long, Austin criminal defense attorney and founder of the Texas After Violence Project, will facilitate a series of four Wednesday night discussions at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway, Austin, Texas 78751, on active engagement with the problems of violence and the death penalty in Texas.  The Pendle Hill Pamphlet, “An Art of Small Resurrections – Surviving the Texas Death Chamber” by Mr. Long will be provided as a part of this class. Each night there is a dinner from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and discussion from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Registration may be made in advance at: http://www.tumc.dreamhosters.com/events/wna-spring-session-1-begins-125/

• January 25th: Theologies of the death penalty: a look at the Pendle Hill Pamphlet, “An Art of Small Resurrections” (free copies now available at TUMC), and punitive religion in light of Jesus’ command to love the enemy.
• February 1st: Trauma systems and the death penalty: a look at the heavy social costs of a trauma-inducing public policy and better ways to meet the basic human needs for justice and nonviolence.
• February 8th: Oral history and the death penalty: a look at the Texas After Violence Project and oral history as a means of deep listening and social transformation.
• February 15th: Leaving the death penalty behind: exploring how religious congregations might help their communities overcome the dual affliction of private and official violence.

TCADP Delivery of Annual Report to Texas Legislators, Tuesday -  January 31

If you have not RSVP’d to help with the report delivery, please email your intentions to Bob Van Steenburg at austin@tcadp.org.

The delivery of the report will include:

• Meeting at 9 AM in room E2.018 (Note this change.  We are not meeting in the cafeteria as we have in past years.).  We will use this room as our center of operations.  The room will be available to us all day.
• 9:00 – 9:30:  Receiving instructions, information and making delivery plans.
• 9:30 – until:  Delivering Annual Report to offices in the capitol.

Please plan on arriving by 9 AM so we can provide the necessary information/instructions to everyone at one time.

For those who may be new or haven’t visited the Capitol in a while, here are a couple of things to consider.

• Capitol Visitors Garage is at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets.
• You are required to pass through security to enter the Capitol.  This may result in a longer time to get into the building, so plan accordingly.
• Room E2.018 is in the Capitol Extension building.  Take the elevators, which are just off the rotunda area to the E2 level.  You can view floor maps of the Capitol on the web at http://www.capevent.legis.state.tx.us/.  Select Maps from the menu on the right side of the page.

For more information or questions contact Bob Van Steenburg at austin@tcadp.org.

Information is also included about the upcoming annual meeting and training to be held in San Antonio, February 18.  Please learn more and register today! (Hotel Block rates end on January 31 and registration rates increase on February 1 – don’t overlook these important dates.)

TCADP 2012 Annual Conference: Seizing the Momentum… Creating the Climate for Change
Saturday, February 18, 2012, University of the Incarnate Word Sky Room, San Antonio
Please make plans to join us on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in San Antonio for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference. The conference features two workshop sessions, a panel discussion on how the changing demographics in Texas will impact our efforts to abolish the death penalty, and networking opportunities with new and old friends. The annual awards ceremony will take place during the luncheon to celebrate those individuals who inspired us in 2011.

Registration for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference is open.  TCADP member, non-member, student, and early-bird rates are available.  Prices go up after February 1, 2012.

Register online today! or  Download the registration form and mail it in.

Download and share the conference flier.

Advertise in the program to promote your work, congratulate the award winners, and sponsor this annual event.  Exhibitor tables are also available. Learn more.

All of the conference information, including award winners, hotel information, etc.  is available online at http://tcadp.org/what-we-do/annual-conference/.

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE? WHAT IS NEEDED?

featuring

Brandon Dudley, Chief of Staff for Senator Rodney Ellis

Thursday, January 26,  2012, 7:00pm

Dominican Sisters Meeting Room
6501 Almeda Rd., Houston, Texas
Pizza will be served for hungry attendees!

Rodrigo Hernandez is scheduled for execution on January 26.  The Houston Vigil will be held that day at the corner of Westheimer and Shepherd at 5:30 pm.   Following this vigil, please join TCADP’s Houston Chapter for a special presentation by Brandon Dudley, Chief of Staff for Senator Rodney Ellis, who will speak on improvements to the Texas Criminal Justice System.

“Incendiary” Film Showing, Wednesday, February 1, 8:00pm

Please join the Houston Peace & Justice Center (HPJC) for a special screening of this film at the Regal Greenway Grand Palace Stadium on Wednesday, February 1st at 8 PM. Stick around afterwards for a discussion about the most recent developments in the Willingham case.

Tickets must be purchased in advance (by January 30, 2:00am). Purchase Tickets Today.

Incendiary

Equal parts murder mystery, forensic investigation and political drama, INCENDIARY: The Willingham Case has captivated theatrical audiences this fall. Winner of the 2011 Louis Black Award at SXSW Film, and selected to play as a 2011 Sterling US Feature at the American Film Institute/Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Festival 2011, INCENDIARY has been called “one of the most timely movies of the year…nonfiction filmmaking at its most classic. Crime, punishment, morality and hardball politics make for an explosive narrative mix all their own.” (Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post)

TCADP 2012 Annual Conference: Seizing the Momentum… Creating the Climate for Change
Saturday, February 18, 2012, University of the Incarnate Word Sky Room, San Antonio
Please make plans to join us on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in San Antonio for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference. The conference features two workshop sessions, a panel discussion on how the changing demographics in Texas will impact our efforts to abolish the death penalty, and networking opportunities with new and old friends. The annual awards ceremony will take place during the luncheon to celebrate those individuals who inspired us in 2011.

Registration for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference is open.  TCADP member, non-member, student, and early-bird rates are available.  Prices go up after February 1, 2012.

Register online today! or  Download the registration form and mail it in.

Download and share the conference flier.

Advertise in the program to promote your work, congratulate the award winners, and sponsor this annual event.  Exhibitor tables are also available. Learn more.

All of the conference information, including award winners, hotel information, etc.  is available online at http://tcadp.org/what-we-do/annual-conference/.

At the Death House Door is a 94-minute documentary film that follows the remarkable  journey of Rev. Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as the death house chaplain to the infamous “Walls” prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. During that time he presided over 95 executions, including the very first lethal injection done anywhere in the world. After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day. The film also tells the story of Carlos De Luna, a convict whose execution affected Pickett more than any other. Pickett firmly believed the man was innocent and two Chicago Tribune reporters turn up evidence that strongly suggests he was right.

WHEN:

WHAT: These events are FREE and open to the public.

Please RSVP to one or both events at: www.tcadp.org/bexar-county-campaign

Please share this event with friends on Facebook:

Part 1: Film Screening

Part 2: Panel Discussion

TCADP 2012 Annual Conference: Seizing the Momentum… Creating the Climate for Change

P.S.  An additional event is scheduled for February 4th with Professor Roger Barnes and Rev. Carroll Pickett at Our Lady of the Lake University.  More details to follow. RSVP will be required due to limited seating.

Scheduled Executions
January 26: Rodrigo Hernandez
February 1: Donald Newbury

Respond to each execution by attending a vigil in your community.  Learn more at http://tcadp.org/get-involved/stop-executions/

Also, on January 20, 2012, the State of Delaware plans to execute Robert Gattis for the killing of his former girlfriend, Shirley Slay. Please help our colleagues in Delaware by signing a petition calling for clemency for Gattis.

News and Events

TCADP 2012 Annual Conference: Seizing the Momentum… Creating the Climate for Change
Saturday, February 18, 2012, University of the Incarnate Word Sky Room, San Antonio
Please make plans to join us on Saturday, February 18, 2012 in San Antonio for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference. The conference features two workshop sessions, a panel discussion on how the changing demographics in Texas will impact our efforts to abolish the death penalty, and networking opportunities with new and old friends. The annual awards ceremony will take place during the luncheon to celebrate those individuals who inspired us in 2011.

Registration for the 2012 TCADP Annual Conference is open.  TCADP member, non-member, student, and early-bird rates are available.  Prices go up after February 1, 2012.

Register online today! or  Download the registration form and mail it in.

Download and share the conference flier.

Advertise in the program to promote your work, congratulate the award winners, and sponsor this annual event.  Exhibitor tables are also available. Learn more.

2012 Conference Hotel Information
Hyatt Place San Antonio Airport
7615 Jones Maltsberger Road, San Antonio

A limited number of rooms have been blocked for Friday and Saturday nights at $99 a night.  The Hotel will have a free shuttle available to the conference location.

Book by phone at 210-930-2333 and ask for the “Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Group Rate” or go online to www.hyatt.com and use the code “G-TXCL”  in the Corporate/Group# field to get the group rate.

Requests for reservations within the block should be made prior to January 30, 2012; after this date rooms will be released for general sale.  Learn more and book your room!