Litigation

Judge-Prosecutor Affair no Grounds for Appeal

By Peter Hardin

The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal brought by a Texas death-penalty defendant who protested that the judge in his murder trial had been sleeping with the prosecutor–despite the fact they admitted it.

Charles Dean Hood, a former topless club bouncer, was seeking a whole new trial based on the relationship of judge and prosecutor. The high court left his conviction intact, according to an Associated Press article, without comment.

In February, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered  a new punishment trial for Hood, saying the jury didn?t get a proper chance to hear evidence that could have persuaded them to spare his life (see Gavel Grab for background). He had been convicted in 1990 and was sentenced to death. The Texas court didn’t mention the romantic relationship that once was secret.

The case attracted attention around the world, according to The Blog of Legal Times.  Other articles about the latest news are available from Bloomberg, the Dallas Morning News, the Austin American-Statesman, CNN and AFP.

Full post as published by The Gavel on April 20, 2010 (boomark / email).