Innocence Project: Overhaul death penalty laws

Legal News Center

Anti-death penalty lawyers say the execution of a Texas man whose plea for DNA testing was ignored shows procedures and laws covering capital punishment need to be changed.

The Innocence Project, a New York legal center that uses DNA to exonerate inmates, said Friday in Houston that the execution of convicted killer Claude Jones 10 years ago occurred only because then Gov. George W. Bush wasn't aware Jones' lawyer was asking for DNA testing on a tiny piece of hair prosecutors used to link Jones to an East Texas liquor store slaying.

Tests now have shown the hair did not belong to Jones.

Barry Scheck, co-founder of the Innocence Project, said while the DNA test doesn't prove Jones was definitely innocent, "in and of itself this is pretty significant."

Related listings

  • High court tosses Ark ruling, says arrest improper

    High court tosses Ark ruling, says arrest improper

    Legal News Center 11/11/2010

    The Arkansas Supreme Court says Conway police didn't follow proper procedures to obtain a statement from a suspect and has overturned the man's conviction.Antwan Lavan Fowler entered a guilty plea on the condition he be allowed to appeal a circuit ju...

  • Kan. advocate's supporters: Grand jury retaliatory

    Kan. advocate's supporters: Grand jury retaliatory

    Legal News Center 11/10/2010

    Federal prosecutors in Kansas who couldn't obtain a gag order against a strident patient activist later launched a secret grand jury investigation and issued subpoenas against the woman and her advocacy group — moves some argue are nothing more than ...

  • Court Voices Doubts on Violent Videogame Law .

    Court Voices Doubts on Violent Videogame Law .

    Legal News Center 11/02/2010

    The Supreme Court expressed doubts Tuesday about the constitutionality of a California law that seeks to ban the sale of violent videogames to minors.During an hour-long oral argument, several justices suggested the law violated free-speech protectio...

Grounds for Divorce in Ohio - Sylkatis Law, LLC

A divorce in Ohio is filed when there is typically “fault” by one of the parties and party not at “fault” seeks to end the marriage. A court in Ohio may grant a divorce for the following reasons:
• Willful absence of the adverse party for one year
• Adultery
• Extreme cruelty
• Fraudulent contract
• Any gross neglect of duty
• Habitual drunkenness
• Imprisonment in a correctional institution at the time of filing the complaint
• Procurement of a divorce outside this state by the other party

Additionally, there are two “no-fault” basis for which a court may grant a divorce:
• When the parties have, without interruption for one year, lived separate and apart without cohabitation
• Incompatibility, unless denied by either party

However, whether or not the the court grants the divorce for “fault” or not, in Ohio the party not at “fault” will not get a bigger slice of the marital property.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read