Texas Governor Rick Perry has announced the appoint­ment of the mem­bers of the state’s new Criminal Justice Advisory Council, includ­ing three judges, two promi­nent state leg­is­la­tors, a defense attor­ney, a pros­e­cu­tor, and 13 addi­tion­al ex-offi­cio mem­bers. The com­mis­sion will study poten­tial flaws and rec­om­mend changes to the state’s jus­tice sys­tem. This is the first group in many years to have broad-rang­ing author­i­ty to look at the Texas crim­i­nal jus­tice sys­tem from arrest to final appeal. Among the issues the pan­el will review are the death penal­ty, the mis­han­dling of evi­dence by local crime labs, the fair­ness and acces­si­bil­i­ty of the appel­late sys­tem, the use of new tech­nol­o­gy to improve the jus­tice sys­tem and police inves­ti­ga­tions, and pos­si­bly changes in state law or pro­ce­dures that could improve pub­lic safe­ty and con­fi­dence in the sys­tem.

Gov. Perry cre­at­ed the coun­cil in March 2005 in order to enhance pub­lic con­fi­dence in Texas’ jus­tice sys­tem and improve pubic safe­ty. Dale Pat Campbell, Jr., vice chan­cel­lor and gen­er­al coun­sel of the Texas Tech University System, will chair the diverse and bipar­ti­san group. Among the Council’s mem­ber­ship are State Senator Rodney Ellis, State Representative Dan Gattis, Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Barbara Hervey, and Brownsville crim­i­nal defense lawyer Robert Lerma.

​“It’s a big step in the right direc­tion, and the gov­er­nor is to be com­mend­ed for tak­ing it. The poten­tial for this coun­cil is great,” stat­ed Sen. Ellis, a Democrat from Houston. House Corrections Committee Chairman Jerry Madden, a Republican from Richardson, Texas, who will serve as an ex-offi­cio mem­ber of the advi­so­ry coun­cil, added, ​“This could end up being more than sig­nif­i­cant. It could be a major step, a very good step for Texas.” Prof. David Dow of the University of Houston Law School who has rep­re­sent­ed numer­ous death row inmates and is the direc­tor of the Texas Innocence Network, will also serve in an ex-offi­cio capac­i­ty. (Austin American-Statesman, June 29, 2005). See Texas, Innocence, and Recent Legislative Activity.

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