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.