Hi Friends of TDS, When people think about capital defense, they usually picture attorneys in courtrooms. But some of the most important work happens outside the courtroom entirely—in living rooms, hospital records, school files, and decades-old family histories. That work is often done by social workers rooted in mitigation investigation. Every case Texas Defender Service takes […]
Hi Friends of TDS, I’m not a numbers guy. I became a lawyer for a reason—pouring over spreadsheets and statistics is not usually how I want to spend my time. But even though digging through data isn’t for me, I know when the numbers aren’t adding up. And it was clear from the start that there […]
Dear Friends of TDS, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: Thea Posel has joined Texas Defender Service as our Legal Director. For those who know Thea—or know the history of capital defense in Texas—her joining TDS is especially meaningful. Thea comes to us from University of Texas School of Law’s Capital Punishment Clinic, an institution with […]
Dear Friends of TDS, More than 26 years ago, Michael Highfill was wrongfully convicted of capital murder after witnessing a shooting. He never touched the gun, and he had no idea a shooting was going to happen. He was simply present, in the wrong place at the wrong time, when his eventual co-defendant shot and killed […]
Dear Friend of TDS, For an incarcerated person, their parole review is so much more than a date on the calendar. It elicits stress, excitement, nervousness, and many more emotions, because it means there’s a possibility of going home. A chance to reunite with children who’ve grown up without them. A chance to hold their parent’s […]
Dear Friends, Tina is a grandmother and a mother of four, and this summer, she’s going home. Throughout her life, Tina has faced mental health challenges and sought to self-medicate with drugs. Eventually, she was convicted of credit card abuse and possession of drugs, resulting in a prison sentence. Tina’s adult struggles with substance abuse were […]
