Judge charged with blocking execution appeal
Lawyer Blogs
A judge on Texas' highest criminal court, accused of blocking appeals for an inmate the night of his execution, is now facing formal bad-conduct charges that could result in her removal from office. Keller refused to keep the court offices open after 5 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2007, when attorneys for Michael Richard asked for a 20-minute extension because computer problems were delaying their efforts to file late appeals of his death sentence. Richard was executed that night by lethal injection for the rape and murder of a Houston-area woman. Earlier that day, the U.S. Supreme Court had agreed to review the constitutionality of lethal injection in a Kentucky case. "Judge Keller absolutely and totally denies these accusations," her attorney, Chip Babcock, told The Associated Press. Keller has 15 days to formally respond to the charges in the start of a process that could take a year and a half or longer. The charges do not prevent her from continuing to preside over cases, Babcock said. Babcock said Richard's attorneys should have known to contact another judge in charge of the case that night.
The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct charged Sharon Keller, the presiding judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, with "willful or persistent conduct that casts public discredit on the judiciary."
Related listings
-
Appeals court revives Katrina insurance case
Lawyer Blogs 02/20/2009A judge incorrectly dismissed several insurance companies from a lawsuit accusing insurers of overbilling the federal government for Hurricane Katrina's flood damage in Louisiana, a federal appeals court has ruled. Wednesday's ruling by the 5th Circu...
-
Court bars release of 17 Uighurs detainees into US
Lawyer Blogs 02/20/2009A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that 17 Turkic Muslims cleared for release from Guantanamo Bay must stay at the prison camp, raising the stakes for an Obama administration that has pledged to quickly close the facility and free those who h...
-
Appeals court upholds NYC's calories-on-menus rule
Lawyer Blogs 02/18/2009A federal appeals court has upheld New York City's regulation requiring some chain restaurants to post calories on menus and menu boards. A 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Tuesday rejected an appeal filed by a New York trade group represen...
Illinois Work Injury Lawyers – Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD.
Accidents in the workplace are often caused by unsafe work conditions arising from ignoring safety rules, overlooking maintenance or other negligence of those in management. While we are one of the largest firms in Illinois dedicated solely to the representation of injured workers, we pride ourselves on the personal, one-on-one approach we deliver to each client.
Work accidents can cause serious injuries and sometimes permanent damage. Some extremely serious work injuries can permanently hinder a person’s ability to get around and continue their daily duties. Factors that affect one’s quality of life such as place of work, relationships with friends and family, and social standing can all be taken away quickly by a work injury. Although, you may not be able to recover all of your losses, you may be entitled to compensation as a result of your work injury. Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD. provides informed advocacy in all kinds of workers’ compensation claims, including:
• Injuries to the back and neck, including severe spinal cord injuries
• Serious head injuries
• Heart problems resulting from workplace activities
• Injuries to the knees, elbows, shoulders and other joints
• Injuries caused by repetitive movements
For Illinois Workers’ Compensation claims, you will ALWAYS cheat yourself if you do not hire an experienced attorney. When you hire Krol, Bongiorno & Given, Ltd, you will have someone to guide you through the process, and when it is time to settle, we will add value to your case IN EXCESS of our fee. In the last few years, employers and insurance carriers have sought to advance the argument that when you settle a case without an attorney, your already low settlement should be further reduced by 20% so that you do not get a “windfall.” Representing yourself in Illinois is a lose-lose proposition.