Two dozen exonerated ex-death row prisoners from across the country will hold a news conference on October 31 in Austin to call for the establishment of a statewide commission on wrongful convictions and a moratorium on executions in Texas. The 24 men spent a combined total of nearly 200 years on death row before being freed. They will be joined by State Rep. Elliot Naishtat and former Bexar County District Attorney Sam Millsap (pictured).

Texas has executed 417 people since the reinstatement of the death penalty, accounting for 37 percent of all executions nationwide, including 12 so far this year. An additional 16 executions are scheduled in Texas this fall and winter. Nine death row inmates have been exonerated in Texas since 1973, including Michael Blair whose charges were dismissed this year.

(Witness to Innocence Press Release, Oct. 27, 2008). See Innocence and Recent Legislation.