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| US judge 'ignored death row plea' | US judge 'ignored death row plea' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A judge in Texas has gone on trial accused of refusing to let lawyers for a convicted murderer on death row to lodge a last-minute appeal. | |
| Sharon Keller is charged with professional misconduct. | |
| The prisoner, Michael Wayne Richard, was put to death hours after she allegedly shut the court, despite being told an appeal was imminent. | |
| Half of all executions in the US last year were in Texas and Judge Keller has earned the nickname Sharon Killer. | |
| She is known for her tough stance on the death penalty. | |
| Just hours before his scheduled execution in September 2007, lawyers for Richard tried to lodge an appeal with Judge Keller, the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. | Just hours before his scheduled execution in September 2007, lawyers for Richard tried to lodge an appeal with Judge Keller, the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. |
| Their efforts were delayed by computer glitches and when they phoned the court to request extra time, they say they were told court closes at 5pm. | Their efforts were delayed by computer glitches and when they phoned the court to request extra time, they say they were told court closes at 5pm. |
| Richard was put to death some three hours later. | Richard was put to death some three hours later. |
| Now his lawyers claim Judge Keller deliberately ordered the courthouse to close at 5pm, knowing a last-minute appeal was imminent. | Now his lawyers claim Judge Keller deliberately ordered the courthouse to close at 5pm, knowing a last-minute appeal was imminent. |
| Judge Keller's lawyers say she meant that the court building closed at that time, but that there was an after-hours judge on duty who would have accepted the appeal. | Judge Keller's lawyers say she meant that the court building closed at that time, but that there was an after-hours judge on duty who would have accepted the appeal. |
| State prosecutors have charged Judge Keller with five counts of professional misconduct. They say her actions cast "public discredit" on the judiciary. | State prosecutors have charged Judge Keller with five counts of professional misconduct. They say her actions cast "public discredit" on the judiciary. |
| If found guilty, she could lose her position on the State Appeals Court, a demotion that could end her career. | If found guilty, she could lose her position on the State Appeals Court, a demotion that could end her career. |