An Unfulfilled Promise: Assessing the Efficacy of Article 11.073 examines the effectiveness of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 11.073, a law intended to grant relief to those wrongfully convicted based on flawed forensic evidence. Despite the law's intent, Texas Defender Service's systematic review of over 70 cases reveals that the law is not functioning as the Texas Legislature intended. Due to restrictive interpretations by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and procedural barriers, many innocent people remain imprisoned without the relief they deserve. This report outlines key issues with the law and recommends legislative changes to ensure it truly provides a pathway to justice for the wrongfully convicted.
“Texas Defender Service’s report impressively presents a comprehensive examination of the more than 70 cases involving the junk science statute that were decided by the Court of Criminal Appeals.”
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