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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| US judge 'ignored death row plea' | US judge 'ignored death row plea' |
| (1 day later) | |
| A prominent judge in Texas has gone on trial accused of refusing to let lawyers for a convicted murderer on death row lodge a last-minute appeal. | A prominent judge in Texas has gone on trial accused of refusing to let lawyers for a convicted murderer on death row lodge a last-minute appeal. |
| Sharon Keller is charged with professional misconduct. | 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. | 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, where critics have dubbed Judge Keller "Sharon Killer". | Half of all executions in the US last year were in Texas, where critics have dubbed Judge Keller "Sharon Killer". |
| She is known for her tough stance on the death penalty. | 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 closed at 5pm. | |
| Richard, convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman 20 years ago, was put to death by lethal injection some three hours later. He became the 26th person to be executed in Texas that year. | Richard, convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman 20 years ago, was put to death by lethal injection some three hours later. He became the 26th person to be executed in Texas that year. |
| 'Confusion' | 'Confusion' |
| His lawyers allege that Judge Keller deliberately ordered the courthouse to close at 5pm, knowing a last-minute appeal was imminent. | His lawyers allege that Judge Keller deliberately ordered the courthouse to close at 5pm, knowing a last-minute appeal was imminent. |
| The State Commission on Judicial Conduct said the judge had engaged in "wilful or persistent conduct that cast public discredit on the judiciary". | The State Commission on Judicial Conduct said the judge had engaged in "wilful or persistent conduct that cast public discredit on the judiciary". |
| Judge Keller's lawyer says 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. | |
| "This whole case is about the confusion between the word 'court' and 'clerk'," Chip Babcock said, adding: "There is no question the clerk's office closes at 5pm. That does not mean there aren't after-hours filings." | "This whole case is about the confusion between the word 'court' and 'clerk'," Chip Babcock said, adding: "There is no question the clerk's office closes at 5pm. That does not mean there aren't after-hours filings." |
| It is common practice to keep the courthouse open in death penalty cases. | It is common practice to keep the courthouse open in death penalty cases. |
| State prosecutors have charged Judge Keller with five counts of professional misconduct. | State prosecutors have charged Judge Keller with five counts of professional misconduct. |
| If found guilty, she could lose her position on the bench, a demotion that could end her career. |